ESPN’s Pat McAfee Gamble Pays Off as Rose Bowl Drama Leaves College Football Divided

The world is a difficult thing to please. Whatever you do, there’s going to be two sides. Good and bad; inextricably bound. And when it comes to Pat McAfee’s commentary, you either love or hate his style. The sixth-year ESPN analyst is no stranger to divided opinions at the Rose Bowl. It happened last year, and it’s happening again this year.

College GameDay traveled to Pasadena to cover the bowl game between Oregon and Ohio State at Rose Bowl Stadium. Even this year, it’s the former NFL punter who’s calling the game. Dynamic. Energetic. Lively. That’s how you would describe Pat McAfee’s style. But CFB fans have diverse opinions about this whole situation. One excited fan wrote, “Not gone lie, Pat McAfee is doing a great job calling this Oregon/OSU game live in the end zone lol…”

As part of the Field Pass broadcast, Pat McAfee got the nod again after calling last year’s Rose Bowl between Michigan and Alabama. Just like this year, fans were divided between his casual commentary and the traditional calling. What stands out is their conversational tone compared with traditional broadcasting. More informal. Lots of slang. But some people can’t relate to his energy during the game. 

On the field, Ryan Day could almost see his redemption as Ohio State dominated the undefeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl. A 34-8 halftime lead is more than enough revenge on their previous 32-31 record from their last meeting this season. A win is especially crucial for the Buckeyes HC who’s in danger of losing his job with another loss. So it’s an important game, a highly anticipated one. And Pat McAfee’s style doesn’t resonate with some. 

Football X nation debates Pat McAfee’s Rose Bowl calling 

We’ve seen a positive response above. Here is another thrilled fan who voiced their excitement on social media saying, “Listening to the field pass broadcast with the Pat McAfee crew and it’s awesome. These guys are the best!” The energy and hilarity he brings to the table must’ve hooked their interest. 

Some wouldn’t mind listening to him calling every game. They wrote, “Pat McAfee needs to do all the playoffs games! Love listening to him! Lol.” But that could be a nightmare for some. 

The other half doesn’t have nice things to say about Pat McAfee’s game-calling. One person boldly declared, “Pat McAfee is the worst sports announcer I’ve ever heard lmao.” Quite the opposite to the sentiments above. 

That’s not all. Another frustrated X user commented, “Why are they letting Pat McAfee do this to the Rose Bowl?” Doesn’t this situation reflect the quote ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’?

What do you think about McAfee’s hilarious and energetic play-calling style?