ESPN Finally Gets One Right As Pat McAfee Announces College GameDay Return In Electric Video

It should come as no surprise that one of the sports world's most popular personalities is going to continue being featured on an important television show. But given how many bad decisions ESPN makes on a daily basis, it's reassuring that even they're not incompetent enough to mess things up.

This is, after all, the network that employs Paul Finebaum to say things like Deion Sanders, the coach who went 4-8 last season, should replace Lincoln Riley, who has multiple College Football Playoff appearances, at USC. 

READ: ESPN's Paul Finebaum Suggests Deion Sanders Could Replace Lincoln Riley At USC

Pat McAfee announced on X Wednesday morning that he will be returning to ESPN's College GameDay this fall, and he did it in just about the best way possible.

McAfee posted a two-minute-long highlight reel of his performances on GameDay in 2023, featuring what some might call an excessive amount of shirt removals, hyping up the crowd, engaging with fans and berating them after woeful missed field goal attempts. Then made the all-important announcement, "I'm lucky, I'm honored, I'm humbled, I'm grateful, and…I'm back," he says in a voiceover.

Well if that isn't enough to get you fired up for college football season, nothing is.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 09: Former NFL player and host Pat McAfee speaks on radio row ahead of Super Bowl LVII at the Phoenix Convention Center on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Pat McAfee Had To Come Back To GameDay

McAfee brought an entirely new energy and life to the GameDay broadcasts, unsurprising given that's what's helped fuel his meteoric rise in popularity. But he's also come in for criticism for not aligning perfectly with the "values" and opinions of other ESPN personalities. 

Ultimately, the network clearly realized that it was necessary for McAfee to return, especially given the number of huge matchups this season.

Texas at Michigan, Alabama-LSU in the first year after Nick Saban's retirement, Clemson-Florida State, Oregon-Michigan, USC-Michigan, Ohio State at Oregon, and of course, Georgia at Texas.

College football's almost back, and Pat McAfee's coming back with it.