Pat McAfee Reacts to 'College GameDay's' Historic Announcement Ahead of Playoffs

ESPN debuted the iconic pregame show "College GameDay" in 1987, and it has remained a staple of college football Saturdays ever since.

In recent seasons, the show has seen some significant additions, with former NFL player and current host of "The Pat McAfee Show" Pat McAfee joining the crew a few seasons ago, alongside legendary head coach Nick Saban who is finishing up his first season. 

Both have added their unique touch and insights, joining long-time staples of the show like Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, host Rece Davis, and the iconic Lee Corso, who has been a part of the show since its inception.

Following the conclusion of the regular season and ahead of their College Football Playoff doubleheader this weekend, ESPN PR revealed that "College GameDay" had its most successful season in history in 2024.

The show averaged 2.2 million viewers this season, up 6% from 2023 and 5% from the previous season’s high. It also marked three of the six most-watched episodes since 2013.

In response to the announcement, Pat McAfee reacted with enthusiasm, acknowledging the incredible year for the show.

"It was a hell of a College GameDay year. Most-watched of all time," McAfee said. "It has been a phenomenal run. The passion of these fans... the crowds have been a character on the show and they have been awesome. I would like the fans to know that when you come out, you guys make that [explicit] show. It was a fun year for College GameDay.”

Listen to his full reaction: