Nick Saban Shoves Pat McAfee on College GameDay Over Georgia Pick

During an episode of ESPN's "College GameDay," Alabama head coach Nick Saban, along with former Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young, physically pushed analyst Pat McAfee off the set. The incident occurred after McAfee deviated from the consensus by picking No. 2 Georgia to defeat No. 6 Alabama in their highly anticipated matchup in Tuscaloosa.

Saban and Young, who had both selected Alabama to win, reacted to McAfee's prediction by shoving him off the desk, causing him to fall to the floor. McAfee was heard apologizing to Saban as he was being pushed.

The broadcast featured a lively atmosphere with a significant Alabama crowd in attendance at Coleman Coliseum. Despite the home-field advantage and the predictions of his fellow panelists, McAfee stood by his assessment of Georgia's chances.

Alabama entered the game with a 5-2 record against Georgia since 2020, including a 2-0 record at home during that span. The Bulldogs, ranked second in the nation, were undefeated heading into the contest, having scored at least 38 points in every game this season. Quarterback Gunner Stockton led Georgia's offense, with 1,049 passing yards and 13 touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide, coming off a dominant 56-23 road victory over Mississippi State, were led by sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell, who had averaged 282.8 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns. The game was scheduled to be played at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The incident drew varied reactions from viewers on social media. Some fans expressed that McAfee should have anticipated a strong reaction from Saban, given the context of picking against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Others questioned the severity of Saban's actions.