Reason Donald Trump isn’t ESPN College GameDay guest picker revealed by Pat McAfee

From the moment it was announced that President Donald Trump would be in Knoxville for Saturday’s game between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee, college fans wanted to know whether he would swing by the ESPN College GameDay set to make a cameo.

>Some were even campaigning for Trump to serve as the celebrity guest picker, but that honor went to Jackass star Johnny Knoxville.

>Ahead of Saturday’s kickoff, ESPN poster boy Pat McAfee spoke to the Knoxville News to share the reason Trump was not chosen to share his picks on College GameDay. Ultimately, there would have just been too many moving parts.

>MORE: White House claps back at Steve Sarkisian claim Donald Trump impacts sideline comms

Why Isn’t Donald Trump Guest Picker For ‘College GameDay’?President Donald Trump waves to the crowd following Spain’s victory of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, NJ. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)“A lot of people were mad he wasn’t guest picker because online people said he was going to be the guest picker,” McAfee said. “Which is another thing that is just the world we’re in now. Think about where we’re at. We’re out on the field because the game is starting at noon. The amount of things – they’re cutting off radio signals whenever this guy moves in the building.

>“Could you imagine trying to figure that out? He’s sitting on the field. Eighth-largest stadium in the world. I think that’s a lot.”

>It makes perfect sense, and would likely lead to a delay for the scheduled kickoff time. Fans are already being inconvenienced with longer wait times and additional security screening on Saturday morning, so it’s best to just avoid any further logistical issues and get the show on the road as soon as possible.

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