Utah university apologizes after post about Pat McAfee

The University of Utah issued a formal apology to ESPN host Pat McAfee on Tuesday after a social media video sparked a public dispute over his recent visit to Salt Lake City.

The incident began in early September 2025 when conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem. That location sits roughly 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. McAfee referenced that tragedy on Monday while discussing his experiences during the previous week.

Before the broadcast of "College GameDay" on Saturday, October 24, the university posted a video on its official Instagram account. The clip asked students to perform impressions of McAfee. Comments visible in the post described the host as "corny" and "creepy." The university later deleted the video from its platforms.

McAfee said the post made him feel "very, very uncomfortable" as he prepared to appear before thousands of fans. He noted that while he could tolerate student chatter, he found it problematic for the institution to amplify those remarks on its official channel. "This is how the university feels about it. It’s an uncomfortable feeling," he said during his Monday show.

The university responded with a statement on its Instagram page acknowledging that staff were responsible for the content. The school said it intended to create "lighthearted engagement" but admitted it "missed the mark." Officials stated they reached out to McAfee to express regret and emphasized that the host and the "College GameDay" crew are always welcome on campus.

McAfee also criticized a student who participated in his field goal contest for questioning the $1 million prize amount. He joked that the experience made him wonder if he should contract a virus to avoid returning. Despite the friction, the Utah football team defeated Houston 21-13 in Saturday’s game.

The university noted that it has hosted the pregame show seven times previously and values its relationship with the ESPN crew. McAfee praised the student section as "incredible" and thanked the attendees for their presence during the live broadcast.