Pat McAfee Taken Aback as Lee Corso Challenged to “Attack” Him After $250K Loss

When Lee Corso announced his retirement from College GameDay, you knew things were about to get interesting. The 90-year-old icon had spent nearly four decades turning Saturday mornings into must-see television with his headgear picks and infectious energy. Losing Corso feels like losing that beloved family member who made every gathering memorable, the one who made everyone feel included. His departure leaves GameDay facing something it’s never really had to navigate: life without its biggest star.

The transition hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Change is never easy, especially when you’re dealing with fans who’ve spent decades getting comfortable with the same voices and energy every Saturday morning. ESPN has been experimenting with different personalities, trying to capture even a fraction of what made Corso special. That’s where Pat McAfee enters the picture. This energetic former punter, whose loud, unconventional style has made him a lightning rod for criticism. Some viewers love his approach and the fresh energy he brings; others see him as everything wrong with modern sports media and aren’t shy about expressing their displeasure.

The hatred reached a disturbing new level recently when one social media user crossed every line of decency with this comment: “Lee Corso should attack Pat McAfee with a samurai sword and dare a jury to convict him.” McAfee’s response captured the shock perfectly: “Jesus Christ,” he replied, clearly taken aback by the violent imagery and sheer hostility. The comment embodies the worst of sports fandom, where legitimate criticism morphs into personal attacks that have absolutely no place in civilized discussions about television personalities.

What makes this backlash particularly unfair is how it completely ignores McAfee’s genuine contributions to college football and his similarities to a young Corso. Both men brought irreverent energy to traditional broadcasts, both made established voices uncomfortable, and both understood that entertainment value matters just as much as analysis. McAfee has consistently driven viewership growth across every show he has ever been a part of. He also recently contributed $250,000 of his own money to a fan kicking contest. And he brings authentic passion that resonates with younger audiences. These are all the things young Corso would be doing. Critics seem to have forgotten that Corso himself was once the disruptor. He was the personality who made traditionalists uncomfortable with his unpredictable takes and theatrical presentations.

ESPN’s decision to expand GameDay from one hour to three hours has created more opportunities for personalities like McAfee to shine, but it’s also given critics more ammunition to complain about repetitive content and different approaches. McAfee deserves time to develop his role in this new landscape, not violent fantasies from keyboard warriors who mistake nostalgia for legitimate criticism. Corso built his legacy over decades of being authentically himself. Expecting anyone to immediately fill that void shows we’ve completely forgotten how television chemistry actually develops. Sometimes the best thing you can do is give change a chance instead of wishing harm on people who are simply trying to do their jobs.

McAfee’s generosity shines through despite the criticism

While keyboard warriors continue their attacks on Pat McAfee’s presence on College GameDay, his actions during the Ohio State-Texas pregame show perfectly demonstrated why their hatred is so misplaced. McAfee’s weekly kicking contest returned for the 2025 season with a massive $250,000 prize for Logan Pallo, a sophomore business finance major from Ohio State. His genuine investment in creating memorable experiences for fans is the reason McAfee is important for the game. Even when Kirk Herbstreit’s dog, Peter, decided to relieve himself right in the middle of the kicking area, McAfee turned potential disaster into comedy gold, proving his ability to adapt and entertain under any circumstances.

The scene unfolded with typical GameDay chaos as scarlet-and-gray-clad fans surrounded the makeshift field goal setup. McAfee, ever the showman, initially tried to psych out Logan by declaring the obstacles working against him. “You got Pete running around. You got the mascots staring you down. They don’t want you to win. Good doesn’t want you to win,” McAfee announced, building tension before the kick. But when Peter’s bathroom break created an unexpected hazard, Pat McAfee’s commentary reached peak entertainment value: “Peter is taking a dump in the middle of the field. Go kicking. Now, through manure, great things grow. Will Peters’ poop grow you 200 and 50 thousand dollars? You only have one kick. I don’t care. think that poop was a bad omen. I mean, Peter’s poop right in your face. I can’t believe we don’t have turf. Well, we’re in Ohio. This is a football state. You gotta be tough.”

Logan nailed the 33-yard field goal despite the literally crappy conditions, securing his quarter-million-dollar prize but inadvertently stepping in Peter’s mess during his celebration. McAfee’s response perfectly encapsulated his approach to sports entertainment: “You definitely stepped in Peter’s poop during your celebration, but who cares? Buy yourself some new shoes,” he laughed, turning an embarrassing moment into pure joy. The entire sequence—from the buildup to the unexpected obstacle to the triumphant finish—showcased exactly what McAfee brings to College GameDay that his critics refuse to acknowledge. Here’s someone willing to put his own money on the line to create unforgettable moments for college students, all while maintaining the kind of spontaneous humor that makes live television special. When measured against violent fantasies from anonymous social media accounts, the contrast couldn’t be clearer about who’s actually contributing something positive to college football.