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David Pollack Gets Honest About Pat McAfee Replacing Him On 'College Gameday'

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 5:23 PM ET

Shortly after ESPN parted ways with David Pollack, fans accused Pat McAfee of taking his place on "College GameDay."

McAfee has become one of the biggest names on "College GameDay" in just the past two years alone. His willingness to troll any and every fan base makes him must-see TV on Saturdays during the college football season.

During the 2023 season, Georgia fans showered McAfee with boos in large part because he replaced Pollack on "College GameDay." Fans of the Bulldogs wanted Pollack to remain one of the top analysts on the show.

"They did not love me," McAfee said in 2023, via Awful Announcing. "You’ve gotta remember that the whole narrative all year was that because my show came to ESPN, obviously we fired Steve Young, we fired all the people that were here and were great people at ESPN. It was my show’s fault. And then on GameDay, David Pollack got let go. David Pollack — who I am a massive fan of. One of the greatest Bulldogs of all time. A dude who was very good to me — obviously, I took his spot. So Georgia fans all year, not necessarily the biggest McAfee fans."

Pollack offered his honest thoughts about McAfee during a conversation with Pete Nakos of On3. Let's just say he took the high road.

"That’s a topic that people always want to bring up, but I don’t feel like that was Pat’s fault," Pollack told On3. "Pat was hired to do a job, just like I would have been called in to do a job. I don’t feel like Pat was the reason, no. They hired Pat, and Pat is really good at what he does, very different, very unique. A lot of times, when you’re spending a lot of money on a show, there are also levels to who’s important and who’s not. I wasn’t on the right side of that. That also happens in every business across the country every year."

Pollack deserves a lot of credit for handling this situation with grace. Not every analyst would make the same remarks.

"College GameDay" will return this August for the start of the 2025 season.