Pat McAfee mocks FAA chaos with horseback College GameDay entrance live on ESPN
Pat McAfee mocks FAA chaos with horseback College GameDay entrance live on ESPN
Sian JonesSat, November 14, 2026 at 4:13 PM UTC
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Pat McAfee poked fun at the travel chaos caused by Friday's FAA nationwide ground stop -Credit:Steph Chambers, Getty Images (Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
Pat McAfee made a memorable arrival to ESPN's College GameDay, showing up on horseback as the show ribbed the FAA for grounding flights across the country on Friday.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed on Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had implemented a nationwide ground stop, halting all new departures. Planes already airborne were allowed to reach their destinations, though the measures were expected to stay in effect for an indefinite duration.
The directive has created significant confusion throughout the sports community, with multiple college football squads set to travel before Saturday's contests. Uncertainty lingered on Friday about whether those programs would manage to reach their various locations, possibly affecting the Week 11 schedule even after the stoppage was removed. It comes after a College GameDay kicker won $1 million after being accused by McAfee of "lying to his face"
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The show had originally been uncertain if McAfee would reach the studio, with host Rece Davis noting that the ex-NFL punter was among those facing challenges getting to Boise State. Davis mentioned the crew remained optimistic McAfee would make it before airtime, then connected with him during the live transmission.
McAfee subsequently emerged on horseback, announcing: "Don't you worry about an aeroplane! Don't you worry about an automobile! I'm riding a rodeo!"
He was joined by a horse named Rodeo, which he noted was ready to be amongst the Boise State supporters.
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Upon reaching the set, McAfee expressed gratitude to the horse and its handlers, confessing he had never been on a horse previously and had deceived everyone involved to pull off the entrance. He also quipped that he was thankful Rodeo hadn't thrown him to the ground.
The former Indianapolis Colts player then shifted focus to the day's games, calling it a "magical" Saturday.
McAfee's unconventional arrival generated divided responses from audiences, with some appreciating the spectacle while others voiced worries about the animal's well-being.
One viewer acknowledged feeling relieved when it initially looked like the former NFL punter might miss the show, stating: "That poor horse. He was screaming the whole time, and that horse was a nervous wreck. They're sensitive animals. Surprised he didn't get bucked off."
Others found the surprise entrance entertaining, with one audience member calling McAfee's arrival "MAGIC" after it first appeared he wouldn't make it to the set.
McAfee rode a horse to the College GameDay set in Boise, Idaho -Credit:ESPN
The viewer joked they were now curious about what the ESPN host would attempt next, remarking: "Someone pour me another shot of WHISKEY."
On the gridiron, the matchup at Boise State could carry major consequences for the College Football Playoff, with the Broncos strongly positioned for inclusion in the expanded postseason format.
Boise State stands as the frontrunner among Group of Six programs, leading the Pac-12 conference and presently holding the non-Power Four position in the committee's anticipated playoff bracket. The Broncos have secured eight straight victories following a seven-point loss to Oregon in their opening game, climbing to No. 24 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings.
A win over the Beavers would place Boise State in a favorable position to claim the No. 12 seed and make their second playoff appearance.
Source: “AOL Sports”
