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ESPN's College GameDay is set to return to Bloomington for its second full show from the Indiana campus, the program announced. The Saturday broadcast will precede the defending national champion Hoosiers' Big Ten clash with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
But the selection raised eyebrows among fans, many of whom tied the decision to analyst Pat McAfee. Several suggested the Halloween-weekend trip was McAfee's brainchild, and the reaction quickly became a talking point.
Hoosiers Earn Another National Spotlight
Indiana's first full GameDay visit came in 2024, when the Hoosiers defeated the Washington Huskies. The show also aired a shorter Thursday edition from campus in 2017 for the season opener against Ohio State. In recent seasons, GameDay has followed the Hoosiers on the road, including multiple College Football Playoff games during their national title run.
Saturday marks the fourth consecutive week Indiana will appear on a national pregame show, after FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff" originated from each of their previous three games. The GameDay X account teased the visit: "Get ready, Bloomington! We're coming to your city to see the defending champ Hoosiers against the upset-minded Gophers."
Both teams enter off close wins. The Hoosiers (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) edged Michigan 13-6 in overtime on Josh Hoover's 4-yard touchdown run, their first win in Ann Arbor since 1967. That victory came a week after a 19-15 loss to Ohio State, their first defeat in nearly two years. The Gophers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) upset No. 15 Iowa 13-10 at home, forcing four turnovers and winning on Luke Drzewiecki's 46-yard field goal as time expired.
Pro Football Network's College Football Playoff Meter gives Minnesota a 5.5% chance to win in Bloomington and lists its playoff odds at under 0.1%.
Fans Point Finger at McAfee
One fan saw a simple explanation for the pick: "Pat made the call. Needed to be home in time for trick-or-treating. I get it." Another was more direct: "This reeks of Pat McAfee choice." Not all reactions were critical. One user wrote, "I like Pat McAfee. Pat was one of the first, and certainly one of the loudest, national backers of this Curt Cignetti-led Indiana Football program. I'll never forget that."
Others joked about McAfee's on-air antics. At last Saturday's GameDay in Salt Lake City, where No. 10 Utah beat No. 14 Houston 21-13, McAfee went shirtless again after the school's Instagram account poked fun at his habit of removing his shirt on the show. When the panel made picks, McAfee chose the Cougars. "The university's Instagram account posted something talking a little trash about me last night, which I certainly love," he said. "Thank you, guys. I'll never see you again, hopefully." One fan imagined the Bloomington show: "Pat McAfee taking off his shirt while pouring up a double shot of whiskey."
Then there's the kicking contest, which McAfee, a former NFL kicker and punter, launched on the show in 2023. A fan chosen from the crowd attempts a 33-yard field goal for prize money. In Week 7 in Provo, Utah, a BYU freshman won $3 million on his second try, with McAfee and two others each contributing $1 million. On Saturday, a Utah junior missed both attempts at a $1 million prize. That prompted another fan idea for Bloomington: "Whoever is selected for the kick should ask McAfee for $5 million this time."
The playoff stakes are higher for the Hoosiers. PFN's Playoff Meter gives them a 95.0% chance to make the College Football Playoff, rising to 96.4% with a win and falling to 72.0% with a loss to the Gophers.
College GameDay, featuring Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit, and McAfee, airs from 9 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN and ESPNU. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Originally reported by yahoo.