ESPN’s College GameDay cemented its claim as the premier pregame show of college football this season.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said the biggest factor in the show’s renewed success has been Pat McAfee.
McAfee has been appearing on College GameDay since 2022 but he’s become a central figure in their weekly presentation the last two seasons. Between his outsized demeanor, oft-shirtless moments, and highly anticipated kicking contests, he’s made GameDay feel more like must-see TV for many fans.
The result is an average of 2.2 million viewers throughout the season, the highest viewership in the history of the show.
On Tuesday, Mike Greenberg appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to discuss various NFL topics. But he also used the appearance to praise McAfee for the job he has done on GameDay this season, which he called a “rebirth” of an already great show.
“@CollegeGameDay has been a delight to watch” @Espngreeny #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/3oO8CzrNiy
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 7, 2025
“I paid you the highest compliment that I have paid anyone in a very long time,” said Greenberg. “I saw the ratings for College GameDay were the highest they have ever been. I said, ‘I can tell you exactly why that is. That is because Pat McAfee understood the assignment.’
“College GameDay has been on the shortlist of the most important investings that ESPN has ever done. And the jolt that you gave it this year, like the shot in the arm. The whole kicking field goals thing, and just your general craziness, is exactly what the show needed. It was like a renaissance. It was like a rebirth. Which is not to say that it wasn’t great already. But something can be great and made greater.
“I meant to send you a note because I was having that conversation with someone when I was on vacation and I forgot to do it. So I’ll just do it right here. But it was an incredible testament. And (Nick) Saban too. He brings an element that literally no one else could. There is a credibility. The way you guys have loosened him up and made him as accessible as he is ever going to be. You’ve made as accessible a human being as I think he is capable of being. So the show has just been a delight to watch.”
“@CollegeGameDay has been a delight to watch” @Espngreeny #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/3oO8CzrNiy
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 7, 2025
McAfee was equally as complimentary of Greenberg, though he also used it as an opportunity to gripe about how he doesn’t get more compliments from ESPN folks.
“Man, that’s very kind of you to say,” said McAfee. “Obviously, we don’t get a lot of compliments from people at ESPN. So coming from one of the most important people in the history of sports media, I thank you and it means a lot when you say that.”
Whether you love or hate McAfee, it’s hard to argue that his presence hasn’t been a major part of the show’s success this season. His charismatic personality thrives in the live atmosphere with thousands of excited college football fans cheering and shouting nearby.
