Pat McAfee’s farewell to Utah probably won’t make the university’s next promotional video.
After a loud morning on “College GameDay” that included taking off his shirt and taking a shot at The New York Times, McAfee picked Houston to beat the Utes. He then added a parting shot, saying he hoped he wouldn’t see the crowd again.
That didn’t sit the same way with everyone. Some college football fans brushed off McAfee’s comments, while others brought the BYU-Utah rivalry into the discussion. A few also felt the crowd deserved a better sendoff.
Pat McAfee’s Goodbye to Utah Sparks Mixed Fan Reactions
McAfee initially thanked the people who camped out for the show and praised the opening fireworks. But his closing remarks took a different turn as he brought up two things that apparently stuck with him during the visit.
First, McAfee mentioned kicking-contest participant Morgan Boring’s comparison between her $1 million opportunity and the larger prize awarded the previous week at BYU.
He also brought up a university Instagram video featuring students making fun of him. Those references came before he picked Houston to leave Salt Lake City with a victory.
“Thank you, guys. I’ll never see you again, hopefully,” McAfee said at the end of the segment.
McAfee’s farewell quickly became its own discussion. Some fans thought the students had gotten under the ESPN personality’s skin, while others couldn’t care less about his goodbye.
“We don’t care,”one X user wrote.
“I’m sure the feeling is mutual lol,”another added.
These fans didn’t seem too bothered by the exchange. McAfee had offered a goodbye, and they were happy to wave back.
Fans Defend the Crowd and Bring BYU Into the Conversation
Another response focused on how McAfee appeared to handle the morning.
“Wow! Utes fans really got him mad,”one fan wrote.
“You love to see the mask slip,”another user added.
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One commentator treated McAfee’s irritation as a victory for the host school.
“That’s a W for Utah,”they wrote.
One viewer even defended the Utah crowd, arguing that the atmosphere was great and the kicking-contest drama was a separate issue.
“If you woulda watched, you’d get it. The crowd was great. Very loud. Some kicker was ungrateful for a $1 million prize and then shanked 3 kicks. She should be banned,”the fan wrote.
The debate started when Boring compared her $1 million opportunity with BYU’s $3 million prize. McAfee’s exchange with the Utah kicking-contest participant had already sparked reactions online.
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Naturally, BYU found its way into the replies, too. With the previous week’s kicking prize still part of the conversation, one rival fan couldn’t resist taking a victory lap.
“As BYU fans, this is all the validation we need. OMG, I feel so validated,”they wrote.
The next ESPN “College GameDay” broadcast is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, with the campus location yet to be announced.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.