Loud. Unfiltered. Unapologetically himself. That’s three words to describe Pat McAfee from the surface. But on ESPN’s College GameDay, even he’ll admit there’s one arena where his booming voice doesn’t carry. And that also applies to his on-air running mate, who has a $1.3-million-a-year stats and betting wizardry. There’s no deciding where the show sets up shop each Saturday.

Pat McAfee and Stanford Steve Coughlin made that crystal clear on The Pat McAfee Show posted on X on September 17, laughing at the idea that people think they steer the GameDay circus. “Why do you think this game was the College GameDay show?” he said. “You and I both have no say in where it goes. I think we should be very, very clear about that because that is the truth.” So if the loudest guy in the football media’s mouth is tied, who really knows?

While GameDay producers are busy mapping campus stops, Pat McAfee and Stanford Steve are cooking up something different with their own podcast. “We’re gonna run ‘Anudder College Ball Conversation Convo with Stanford Steve’, a college podcast that we are launching,” the former NFL punter announced. “We recorded the first episode this morning. Real deal.” It’s a mouthful of a title, but it fits their chemistry, part serious football talk, part barstool banter.

For Pat McAfee, who ESPN pulled into the GameDay fold back in 2022 and later signed to a multi-million-dollar licensing deal, this is the latest branch of his ever-expanding football empire. For Stanford Steve, he’s already a staple of SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt and known for handing out picks on GameDay; it’s a platform to stretch his football brain a little further. But while their podcast is in their hands, the GameDay tour bus still isn’t. Which brings us to Week 4.

Where is Pat McAfee heading for GameDay?

Instead of rolling into Big Ten country where Indiana vs. Illinois offered an electrifying environment reminiscent of last year’s Midwest madness, ESPN GameDay is packing up and heading south. Coral Gables will play host when the Florida Gators (1-2) visit the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes (3-0). It seems like an odd pick. 

Florida’s season has been a comedy of errors. The Gators dropped a home game to South Florida, then watched freshman quarterback DJ Lagway unravel with five interceptions in a road loss at LSU. Miami, meanwhile, has been quietly building steam behind Carson Beck, the Georgia transfer who’s settled in with poise and production. So why did GameDay land here? Hype. The Sunshine State rivalry hasn’t lost its edge, and when Miami’s undefeated, ESPN smells fireworks. 

If the venue raised eyebrows, the guest picker adds some flash. ESPN announced that Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, the back-to-back Stanley Cup champ, will join Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, and Pat McAfee on the desk.