Pat McAfee took off his shirt, picked Ohio State and apologized to Caitlin Clark during Saturday's "College GameDay" broadcast from Iowa City.
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Some viewers could have done without the shirtless part.
Clark returned to her alma mater as ESPN's celebrity guest picker ahead of Iowa's matchup with the Buckeyes. After she backed the Hawkeyes, McAfee removed his blue blazer and struggled to pull off his shirt when the cuffs caught at his wrists, according to the New York Post.
Nick Saban helped him finish the job. McAfee then made his pick while standing bare-chested beside Clark.
"Caitlin, I apologize to be like this in front of you," McAfee said.
He explained that the "football Gods" had called on him to go shirtless before choosing Ohio State to beat the home team.
Caitlin Clark makes her Ohio State-Iowa pick on College GameDay in Iowa City.
And so does Pat McAfee, while taking off his shirt. pic.twitter.com/QJLEEKgUfL
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 3, 2026
The performance divided viewers online. Pro Football Network documented reactions ranging from criticism of his recurring antics to praise for his energy.
"I still find him very entertaining," one fan wrote on X.
Clark also heard boos during the picks segment, though those were for choosing rival Iowa State over West Virginia. She followed that selection by predicting an Iowa upset of Ohio State.
The Post reported that Clark appeared to take McAfee's routine in stride. His apology came during the broadcast, as part of the exchange, rather than as a later response to the criticism.
