Nick Saban describes his relationship with Pat McAfee as 'kind of Abbott and Costello'

Nick Saban and Pat McAfee have a fun working relationship and it’s especially evident when the two are riffing on ESPN’s College GameDay. While you shouldn’t expect Saban to join McAfee in a side quest with WWE, the two could be long term staples of the long standing pregame show.

With Lee Corso’s impending retirement in a couple of weeks, the show moves, fully, into a new era, led by McAfee and Saban. You have your stalwarts in Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and host Rece Davis of course, but McAfee and Saban set up to be the engaging stars of the show.

Their ability to play off each other as old school vs. new school added a new element to College GameDay. And Saban, being the GOAT of college football, really appreciates what McAfee brings to the set each week.

“We are kind of Abbott and Costello up there, I get that, but I think it’s a good mix of people, you know, on that set,” Saban said at the Legacy Awards. “But one thing that Pat has is a great instinct. What people don’t realize is, when we’re doing GameDay we have 7,000 college students back here, and then we’ve got however many million people watching on TV, and how do you really keep both groups engaged? It’s a real challenge, and he has a great knack for that. 

“That’s why he takes his shirt off, he dances, he does things that really shock me, as you can see the expression on my face when some of the things he did, but I really understand why. He’s smart, he’s a really good football person, and he has a great instinct for when to do something that keeps the show going and the people that are there engaged.”

Speaking of College GameDay and McAfee, there were whispers the former punter could do an independent show instead of the ESPN staple. He allegedly tossed around the idea.

“Pat McAfee has mused with associates about starting his own, independent version of College GameDay,” The Athletic wrote on X. “McAfee has two years left on his College GameDay contract. Last year, he considered not returning before re-signing.”

In September 2022, McAfee struck a five-year deal with ESPN, reportedly worth $85 million. In turn, McAfee joined ESPN’s College GameDay as a co-host and brought his show, The Pat McAfee Show, which previously aired on YouTube, to ESPN.