Pat McAfee apologized to Caitlin Clark after stripping down to his waist and then picking against her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes on College GameDay.
WNBA superstar Clark was the celebrity guest picker at her alma mater on Saturday, when ESPN’s flagship pre-game show rolled into town ahead of the Hawkeyes’ game against Ohio State.
During the broadcast, McAfee trolled the thousands of Iowa fans by hyping up the Hawkeyes and suggesting he was about to pick them over the No 5 Buckeyes.
‘It feels like the football Gods have been talking to me about the Hawkeyes getting a big-time win,’ he said.
In typical McAfee fashion, the former punter-turned ESPN star then began to strip. ‘They’re telling me to take it off!’ he said as he removed his blazer and shirt. Clark, sitting beside McAfee, began to clap and holler.
But the shirtless ESPN star then turned to Clark and said: ‘Caitlin, I apologize for being like this in front of you but when it calls, it calls.
Pat McAfee apologized to Caitlin Clark after stripping down to his waist on College GameDay
Following the ESPN show on Saturday, Ohio State beat No 14 Iowa 31-14 at Kinnick Stadium
Clark returned to Iowa days after the Indiana Fever were knocked out of the WNBA playoffs
‘The football Gods have called me to get shirtless in front of these fantastic people. I’m going to put my shirt back on, I’m going to walk over to Kinnick [Stadium] and I’m going to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes get a huge win.’
That sparked loud boos from the crowd in Iowa, including Clark. But McAfee’s prediction came true.
Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, two to Jeremiah Smith, as Ohio State beat No 14 Iowa 31-14 on Saturday.
Sayin was 20-of-27 passing, and his favorite target was Smith, the nation’s top receiver. Smith had 11 catches for 206 yards, becoming Ohio State’s leader in receptions (207), receiving yards (3,381) and receiving touchdowns (36).
Clark returned to Iowa, where she became a basketball superstar, just days after the Indiana Fever were knocked out of the WNBA playoffs.
