Zac Al-Khateeb, USA TODAY Tue, October 27, 2026 at 7:03 PM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest storyline in college football has less to do with any on-field action and more to do with the people who preview and analyze the sport.
ESPN's "College GameDay" analyst Pat McAfee made waves Monday, Oct. 26, after he said he was made to feel "uncomfortable" on Saturday, Oct. 24 during the program's preview of the Week 8 Utah-Houston game in Salt Lake City.
REQUIRED READING: Pat McAfee says 'I hate this place' after Utah visit. What set him off?
McAfee criticized the University of Utah for sharing a video of students "dogging" him, describing the decision as potentially inciteful against him and pointing to the 2025 shooting death of Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah, as a contributing factor to his discomfort.
"The safety and security of our on-air team, crew and fans is paramount at College GameDay," an ESPN spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. "We are committed to ensuring a safe environment, and given the very real threats that members of our team face, we take issues involving their safety seriously. We support Pat and recognize the very real and valid concerns he has around safety and security."
Utah also apologized for the video on Oct. 26, saying it "missed the mark" in trying to create "lighthearted engagement" with McAfee back on campus.
Week 8 of the college football season brought pivotal conference showdowns, statement wins and memorable moments across the country. Above, Malik Hartford of the UCLA Bruins celebrates with Scooter Jackson after making an interception during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at the Rose Bowl Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Getty Images) Kyler Kasper of the BYU Cougars reaches for the ball in the first half of the game between the UCF Knights and BYU Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House on October 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Dustin Markland, Getty Images) Fans celebrate after a football game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Tennessee Volunteers at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (David Jensen, Getty Images) TJ Metcalf of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with Tevis Metcalf and Amare Campbell after an interception during the first half of a football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (David Jensen, Getty Images) Christian Abney of the Illinois Fighting Illini dives in for a touchdown during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Michael Hickey, Getty Images) Ashton Stamps of the Arizona State Sun Devils celebrates after a defensive stop against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second quarter of the game at Sun Devil Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) Naiim Parrish of the Minnesota Golden Gophers tackles Braeden Jackson of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding, Getty Images) Jelani McDonald of the Texas Longhorns intercepts a pass intended for Caleb Odom of the Ole Miss Rebels on the last play of the game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Warner, Getty Images) Running back Dilin Jones of the LSU Tigers stiff arms safety Eric Winters of the Auburn Tigers during the first half of an NCAA football game at Jordan Hare Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne, Getty Images) PJ Williams of the SMU Mustangs celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the California Golden Bears at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) Nathan Knapik and Collin Dixon of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrate a touchdown during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Michael Hickey, Getty Images) Linebacker Tyreese Fearbry of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after a sack in the first half against the USC Trojans at Camp Randall Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Madison, WI. (Matthew Holst, Getty Images) Landen Chambers of the UCF Knights celebrates his touchdown in the first quarter of the game between the UCF Knights and BYU Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House on October 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Dustin Markland, Getty Images) Keyone Jenkins of the UCF Knights reacts after a touchdown in the second half of the game between the UCF Knights and BYU Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House on October 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Dustin Markland, Getty Images) Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns reacts after a long run in the second quarter against the Ole Miss Rebels at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Warner, Getty Images) Bear Bachmeier of the BYU Cougars scores a touchdown in the first half of the game between the UCF Knights and BYU Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House on October 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Dustin Markland, Getty Images) Isaiah Marshall of the Kansas Jayhawks is tackled by Garrick Ponder of the Baylor Bears in the first half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Ed Zurga, Getty Images) Michael Terry III of the Texas Longhorns dives for the end zone in the second half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Warner, Getty Images) Quarterback Sam Leavitt of the LSU Tigers is tackled by cornerback Rayshawn Pleasant of the Auburn Tigers and edge rusher Da'Shawn Womack #15 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half of an NCAA football game at Jordan Hare Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne, Getty Images) Running back Ahmad Miller celebrates scoring a touchdown alongside tight end David Clement and tight end Noah Meyers of the Syracuse Orange during the first half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Matt Kelley, Getty Images) 1 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Week 8 of the college football season brought pivotal conference showdowns, statement wins and memorable moments across the country. Above, Malik Hartford of the UCLA Bruins celebrates with Scooter Jackson after making an interception during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at the Rose Bowl Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Getty Images) 1 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Week 8 of the college football season brought pivotal conference showdowns, statement wins and memorable moments across the country. Above, Malik Hartford of the UCLA Bruins celebrates with Scooter Jackson after making an interception during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at the Rose Bowl Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Getty Images) 2 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Kyler Kasper of the BYU Cougars reaches for the ball in the first half of the game between the UCF Knights and BYU Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House on October 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Dustin Markland, Getty Images) 3 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Fans celebrate after a football game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Tennessee Volunteers at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (David Jensen, Getty Images) 4 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations TJ Metcalf of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with Tevis Metcalf and Amare Campbell after an interception during the first half of a football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (David Jensen, Getty Images) 5 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Christian Abney of the Illinois Fighting Illini dives in for a touchdown during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Michael Hickey, Getty Images) 6 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Ashton Stamps of the Arizona State Sun Devils celebrates after a defensive stop against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second quarter of the game at Sun Devil Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) 7 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Naiim Parrish of the Minnesota Golden Gophers tackles Braeden Jackson of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding, Getty Images) 8 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Jelani McDonald of the Texas Longhorns intercepts a pass intended for Caleb Odom of the Ole Miss Rebels on the last play of the game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Warner, Getty Images) 9 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Running back Dilin Jones of the LSU Tigers stiff arms safety Eric Winters of the Auburn Tigers during the first half of an NCAA football game at Jordan Hare Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne, Getty Images) 10 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations PJ Williams of the SMU Mustangs celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the California Golden Bears at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) 11 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Nathan Knapik and Collin Dixon of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrate a touchdown during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Michael Hickey, Getty Images) 12 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Linebacker Tyreese Fearbry of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after a sack in the first half against the USC Trojans at Camp Randall Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Madison, WI. (Matthew Holst, Getty Images) 13 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Landen Chambers of the UCF Knights celebrates his touchdown in the first quarter of the game between the UCF Knights and BYU Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House on October 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Dustin Markland, Getty Images) 14 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Keyone Jenkins of the UCF Knights reacts after a touchdown in the second half of the game between the UCF Knights and BYU Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House on October 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Dustin Markland, Getty Images) 15 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns reacts after a long run in the second quarter against the Ole Miss Rebels at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Warner, Getty Images) 16 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Bear Bachmeier of the BYU Cougars scores a touchdown in the first half of the game between the UCF Knights and BYU Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House on October 24, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Dustin Markland, Getty Images) 17 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Isaiah Marshall of the Kansas Jayhawks is tackled by Garrick Ponder of the Baylor Bears in the first half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Ed Zurga, Getty Images) 18 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Michael Terry III of the Texas Longhorns dives for the end zone in the second half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Warner, Getty Images) 19 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Quarterback Sam Leavitt of the LSU Tigers is tackled by cornerback Rayshawn Pleasant of the Auburn Tigers and edge rusher Da'Shawn Womack #15 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half of an NCAA football game at Jordan Hare Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne, Getty Images) 20 / 20 College Football Week 8's biggest moments, reactions and celebrations Running back Ahmad Miller celebrates scoring a touchdown alongside tight end David Clement and tight end Noah Meyers of the Syracuse Orange during the first half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Matt Kelley, Getty Images) The question now becomes whether ESPN will consider returning to Salt Lake City in Week 10 for a potential top-10 rivalry matchup between the Utes and BYU after McAfee said, multiple times, he hopes not to return to Utah's campus.
While the game has massive implications for the Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff races, however, ESPN has more than a few choices to choose from in Week 10 following a foray into Bloomington, Indiana , the week prior.
Here's a look at potential Week 10 locations for "College GameDay":
REQUIRED READING: Utah-BYU gets stunning kickoff time for Holy War. Fans aren't happy
Apart from a return to Salt Lake City for the potential top-10 matchup between the Utes and Cougars, ESPN has several destinations to choose from in Week 10.
The most obvious of those is the historical rivalry between No. 1 Miami and No. 6 Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana — a meeting could have been between the top two teams in college football, were it not for a controversial BYU win vs. the Fighting Irish in Week 7 . It would be the first visit to South Bend since the 2024 season for "College GameDay."
Elsewhere, ESPN could return to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the second time this season to preview No. 10 Alabama at No. 13 LSU. It is the first meeting between Kalen DeBoer and Lane Kiffin, and a loss could knock either team from playoff contention (both the Crimson Tide and Tigers have two defeats this year, already).
Indeed, the SEC has several potential options for "GameDay," including a rematch of last year's CFP quarterfinal meeting between No. 3 Georgia and No. 12 Mississippi, in Oxford. Another option is Knoxville, Tennessee, where No. 17 Tennessee will host an eighth-ranked Kentucky team in sole possession of first place in the SEC. There's also a meeting between No. 11 Texas and No. 23 Missouri in Columbia.
Here's a comprehensive look at potential destinations for "College GameDay":
McAfee on the Oct. 26 episode of "The Pat McAfee Show" took some time to discuss the situation at the University of Utah in Week 8, saying he felt "uncomfortable" during the show.
The issue was less to do with students "dogging him" — they called him "corny" and "creepy" — but that the video was shared on Utah's official platform.
"The university puts that out as I'm about to go out and do an infomercial for the place? And I'm walking in front of thousands of these people. This is how the university feels about it? It's an uncomfortable feeling," McAfee said. "I'm getting a lot of shrapnel from a lot of places. The university is putting this out? That's something I just had never experienced, really in my entire life. So it kind of set me off a little bit. Made me feel a little bit weird."
McAfee also referenced Kirk's shooting death in September 2025, which occurred roughly 43 miles south of the University of Utah's Salt Lake City campus.
"And I thought to myself, 'Has there been anything really scary happening at like a college gathering in the state of Utah recently? Do we think we should be amplifying reasons for why people hate my guts, as a university? I don't know. It was a lot of mixed feelings for me going out there.
"But the university gaslighting ... right before I got out there to talk about your school? Especially with what happened 40 miles south in Salt Lake City a little over a year ago? I did not enjoy that. I was very, very uncomfortable. Very, very uncomfortable."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will ESPN send Pat McAfee back to Utah? College GameDay has Week 10 dilemma with top-10 Holy War
Source: Sports
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