When fans ask where did Pat McAfee go to college, the answer is West Virginia University, where he played from 2005 through 2008 and established himself as one of the most accomplished specialists in Mountaineers football history. Long before he became a nationally recognized sports broadcaster and host of The Pat McAfee Show, McAfee was a standout kicker and punter in Morgantown, helping West Virginia win four bowl games and earning multiple All-American honors.
His college career was the foundation for everything that followed. McAfee entered West Virginia as a highly regarded kicking prospect, quickly won a starting job and eventually became a versatile special-teams player who handled field goals, extra points, kickoffs and punting duties.
Pat McAfee Attended West Virginia University
Pat McAfee attended West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. He played for the Mountaineers for four seasons, beginning in 2005 and finishing his college career in 2008.
McAfee was originally from Plum, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. His athletic background was unusual because soccer played a major role in his development before football became his primary sport.
During his high school years, McAfee developed a reputation for having an exceptionally strong leg. He eventually attracted attention from college football programs after participating in a kicking competition in Florida.
That competition played a major role in changing the direction of his college career.
West Virginia assistant coach Tony Gibson was watching the event and became interested in McAfee’s combination of power and accuracy. After the competition, West Virginia contacted him, and McAfee visited the school.
The opportunity eventually brought him to Morgantown and into the Mountaineers football program.
Why Did Pat McAfee Choose West Virginia?
McAfee’s route to West Virginia was not completely straightforward.
Before committing to the Mountaineers, he had been considering other college opportunities. His performance in kicking competitions, however, demonstrated that he could compete at a much higher level than some programs initially expected.
West Virginia recognized that his leg strength could be useful in several areas.
McAfee was not simply viewed as someone who could make field goals. His ability to kick the ball deep on kickoffs was also valuable, and the Mountaineers saw the possibility of using him as a multidimensional special-teams player.
Once he visited Morgantown, McAfee decided that West Virginia was the right fit.
That decision proved significant for both his career and the university’s football program.
Pat McAfee Became a Starter as a Freshman
McAfee did not spend his first college season waiting behind an established specialist.
As a true freshman in 2005, he earned the job handling placements and kickoffs.
He appeared in 12 games during his first season and immediately demonstrated why West Virginia had recruited him. He finished the season with 11 made field goals and 48 successful extra points.
He also handled kickoff duties, giving the Mountaineers another dimension on special teams.
McAfee’s freshman campaign established a pattern that continued throughout his career: he was trusted with multiple responsibilities rather than being limited to one role.
He also received Big East Player of the Week recognition during the season.
McAfee’s Breakout Season Came in 2006
McAfee’s sophomore season was one of the most memorable periods of his college career.
In 2006, he made 17 of 22 field-goal attempts and converted all 62 of his extra-point attempts.
His leg strength was particularly noticeable in a game against Pittsburgh.
McAfee connected on a 51-yard field goal at Heinz Field, a kick that was notable because it was, at the time, the longest field goal in the stadium’s history at either the college or professional level.
That was not his only important performance that season.
During West Virginia’s triple-overtime victory against Rutgers, McAfee made four field goals. One of those kicks came with less than a minute remaining in regulation, while another helped the Mountaineers during overtime.
His performances against Pittsburgh and Rutgers demonstrated that McAfee could handle pressure situations as well as routine special-teams responsibilities.
He Helped West Virginia Win the 2006 Sugar Bowl
McAfee was also part of a highly successful period for West Virginia football.
The Mountaineers played in the 2006 Sugar Bowl and defeated Georgia, giving McAfee his first major bowl victory with the program.
He later became part of three additional bowl-winning teams.
By the end of his college career, McAfee had been involved in four bowl victories:
- 2006 Sugar Bowl
- 2007 Gator Bowl
- 2008 Fiesta Bowl
- 2008 Car Care Bowl
The success of those teams helped make McAfee’s years at West Virginia particularly memorable.
Pat McAfee Was More Than a Placekicker
One of the defining characteristics of McAfee’s college career was his versatility.
At West Virginia, he handled:
- Field goals
- Extra points
- Kickoffs
- Punts
That combination is unusual at the highest levels of college football.
By his junior season, McAfee had become an established punter in addition to his kicking responsibilities. He punted 46 times for 1,962 yards in 2007, averaging 42.7 yards per punt.
He also produced several extremely long punts during the season, including a 71-yarder against Cincinnati.
His ability to perform multiple jobs made him especially valuable to West Virginia.
His 2007 Season Produced 103 Points
McAfee’s junior season was another important step in his development.
He played in all 13 games and made 13 field goals and 64 extra points. Those numbers gave him 103 total points, making him West Virginia’s second-leading scorer that season.
He also continued to perform well as a punter.
His 2007 campaign included a number of punts of 50 yards or more, while his kickoff distance regularly gave the Mountaineers strong field-position advantages.
His consistency earned him second-team All-Big East recognition from league coaches and other honors during the season.
He was also named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, which recognizes outstanding college kickers.
McAfee’s Senior Season Cemented His Reputation
McAfee entered the 2008 season as an experienced senior and one of the most established specialists in the program.
He remained responsible for both kicking and punting duties and continued to produce at a high level.
One of the biggest highlights came when he kicked a 52-yard field goal against Villanova.
Later that season, he connected on another 52-yard attempt against Cincinnati, helping send the game into overtime.
He finished the season with a 44.7-yard punting average and a season-long punt of 65 yards. He also made all 36 of his extra-point attempts.
By the conclusion of his senior year, McAfee had developed into a nationally recognized specialist.
What Did Pat McAfee Study at West Virginia?
McAfee was a communications major at West Virginia University.
That detail is especially interesting when viewed alongside his professional career after football.
After retiring from the NFL, McAfee built a career in broadcasting, podcasting, television and sports entertainment. His communications background predates that career by several years and was part of his academic experience at WVU.
While his football accomplishments ultimately became the most visible part of his college résumé, his education gave him a connection to the communications field that would later become central to his professional life.
What Were Pat McAfee’s College Career Statistics?
McAfee finished his West Virginia career with impressive numbers across multiple specialist categories.
Over 51 games, he accumulated:
- 384 total points
- 58 field goals
- 210 extra points
- 126 punts
- More than 5,500 punting yards
- A career punting average of approximately 43.7 yards
His 384 points established him as West Virginia’s all-time leading scorer at the time, while his 210 extra points also set a school record.
The combination of scoring production and punting statistics illustrates why his college career was different from that of a typical kicker.
He was contributing in virtually every phase of special teams.
Pat McAfee Earned All-American Recognition
McAfee’s production was eventually recognized nationally.
During his college career, he received several major honors, including First-Team All-American recognition from CBSSports.com.
He was also named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and received third-team All-American recognition from the Associated Press.
In addition, McAfee was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award and a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Those awards placed him among the most highly regarded specialists in college football.
His success at West Virginia also helped him gain attention from NFL scouts.
How Did Pat McAfee Get to the NFL?
McAfee’s college performance eventually led to the next stage of his football career.
The Indianapolis Colts selected him in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
He became an NFL punter and kickoff specialist and spent his entire professional playing career with Indianapolis.
His NFL career lasted eight seasons, from 2009 through 2016.
McAfee earned two Pro Bowl selections and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2014. He also played in Super Bowl XLIV during his rookie season.
The path from a high school soccer player in Pennsylvania to an NFL Pro Bowl specialist began with his decision to pursue football more seriously and ultimately attend West Virginia.
Did Pat McAfee Play Soccer in College?
Yes, McAfee also had a connection to soccer while attending West Virginia.
Before becoming known for football, he was a highly accomplished soccer player at Plum High School. He earned first-team All-WPIAL honors three times.
His soccer background helped him develop the technique associated with soccer-style kicking.
McAfee has often been recognized for the unusual route he took into football. Rather than growing up exclusively focused on football, he developed his kicking abilities alongside his soccer career.
That background eventually became one of the distinguishing features of his story.
Pat McAfee Remains Closely Connected to WVU
Although McAfee’s playing career at West Virginia ended in 2008, his relationship with the university has continued.
He has returned to campus for football-related events and has remained an outspoken supporter of the Mountaineers.
In 2024, McAfee served as an honorary coach during West Virginia’s Gold-Blue Spring Football Game.
His continuing association with WVU has also extended beyond appearances at football games.
McAfee has become one of the most prominent former Mountaineers in sports media, and his national platform has frequently given West Virginia significant visibility.
In 2025, the university inducted him into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing his achievements as a Mountaineer player.
McAfee’s Support for West Virginia Has Continued
McAfee’s connection with West Virginia has also become significant in the changing landscape of college athletics.
As college sports have increasingly relied on name, image and likeness programs and private financial support, McAfee has publicly supported his alma mater.
In 2024, he made a reported $1 million contribution to West Virginia’s Country Roads Trust, an NIL organization connected with Mountaineer athletics.
His support reflects the continuing relationship between McAfee and the university more than a decade after he completed his college playing career.
West Virginia officials have also publicly discussed the value of McAfee’s support and national profile to the university.
From WVU Kicker to Sports Media Personality
McAfee’s professional life eventually moved far beyond football.
After retiring from the NFL, he transitioned into sports media and developed The Pat McAfee Show.
The program grew from a digital and podcast-based operation into a major sports-media property.
McAfee eventually became part of ESPN’s programming lineup, while also taking on a prominent role with College GameDay.
His current career makes his communications major at West Virginia an especially notable part of his biography.
The former Mountaineer specialist now spends much of his professional life talking about football rather than playing it.
Why West Virginia Was So Important to McAfee’s Career
West Virginia represented the turning point between McAfee’s early athletic career and professional football.
He arrived in Morgantown as a young kicker with unusual leg strength. Four seasons later, he had become an All-American, a multiple-award candidate, a four-time bowl winner and an NFL prospect.
His experience at WVU also gave him the opportunity to compete in nationally televised games and major bowl contests.
The environment prepared him for the pressure associated with professional football and helped establish the reputation that ultimately led to the Colts selecting him in the NFL Draft.
So, Where Did Pat McAfee Go to College?
The answer to where did Pat McAfee go to college is West Virginia University.
McAfee attended WVU from 2005 through 2008 and played both kicker and punter for the Mountaineers. He majored in communications and became one of the most productive specialists in school history.
His four-year college career included 384 points, 58 field goals, 210 extra points and more than 5,500 punting yards. He was also part of four bowl-winning teams and earned multiple All-American honors.
West Virginia ultimately became the launching point for McAfee’s NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts and, later, his transition into sports broadcasting.
Today, his connection to the university remains an important part of his story. From his arrival as a young specialist from Pennsylvania to his recognition in the WVU Sports Hall of Fame, McAfee’s time in Morgantown remains one of the defining chapters of his career.