Pat McAfee doesn't have an ESPN College GameDay contract, but USC football fans likely don't care

Per The Athletic, Pat McAfee has not signed a new contract with ESPN’s College GameDay. Until he does, there is obviously no guarantee that the brash host of ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ will return to Saturday morning TV in the Fall.

McAfee’s College GameDay contract is separate from the contract that airs his daily talk show on ESPN.

McAfee undoubtedly shook up the GameDay set when he joined the cast last season. His unfiltered comments and antics to excite host school fans created polarizing public opinions. But love or hate him, television viewers continue to tune in to see what McAfee will say or do next.

GameDay will receive another shot in the arm by adding former Alabama head coach Nick Saban to its cast. Saban abruptly retired from coaching in January but has remained well within the public eye. The soon-to-be hall of famer has appeared frequently on ESPN’s college football programming.

Saban was also a recurring guest on McAfee’s talk show.

USC football fans are likely to watch Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff anyway.

Fox countered ESPN’s premier college football show with the ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ in 2019. The show has predominantly covered the Big Ten’s marquee matchups, thus aligning with the conference’s massive media rights pact with Fox Sports.

Former USC quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush were members of the original Big Noon Kickoff cast. The panel also included controversial former head coach Urban Meyer and former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. Last season, the network added Mark Ingram II after contract negotiations with Bush failed.

USC joining the Big Ten this offseason will surely increase its coverage on Fox’s pregame kickoff show. Also, we anticipate the Big Noon Kickoff will be on the site of multiple Trojans’ games this season.

As for GameDay, we’re sure ESPN will come to an agreement with McAfee in the coming weeks. Longtime panel member Lee Corso is likely approaching his final season on GameDay after a run that started in 1987. Last season featured the least television time for the former coach on GameDay.

Corso made famous a headgear schtick that McAfee appears poised to assume or replace with something new.