PAT McAfee was pumped up after a college punter pulled off a miraculous play on Saturday.
The apple of McAfee’s eye was North Dakota punter Luke Silvernale, who rescued a seemingly doomed play late in their 21-3 loss to Iowa State.
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With under five minutes left in the third quarter and the Fighting Hawks down 14-3, the ball was snapped to Silvernale at his own 32-yard line.
However, the ball hit his hands and immediately fell to the ground, prompting Cyclones players to come rushing.
Just in time, Silvernale managed to side-foot the pigskin like a soccer ball straight down the middle of the field, piercing through a crowd of players.
Initially landing just shy of Iowa State’s 40-yard line, the ball kept bouncing, making it all the way to their four-yard line.
“Talk about making something out of nothing!” Fox announcer Eric Collins called.
“Luke Silvernale just earned the scholarship, what a wonderful play,” he went on to add.
Former NFL All-Pro punter McAfee wasted no time in resharing the clip on X, clearly loving what he’d just seen from the sophomore.
“Oh s**t oh s**t oh s**t oh s**t oh s**t… Be an athlete.. be an athlete.. be an athlete…,” McAfee imagined Silvernale was saying.
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He then finished off in all capitals with, “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Fans too were quick to weigh in on the incredible play, which one viewer described as “crazy.”
“Pure. Luck,” said a second.
“Gotta be the hair,” suggested another, referring to Silvernale’s distinctive mullet.
While a fourth added, “Saved by the Mullet!!!”
Despite the optimal field position after SIlvernale’s punt, Iowa State scored on the very next drive.
College football top 25 rankings
BELOW are the preseason top 25 rankings of college football’s best programs
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Texas
- Alabama
- Ole Miss
- Notre Dame
- Penn State
- Michigan
- Florida State
- Missouri
- Utah
- LSU
- Clemson
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State
- Kansas State
- Miami
- Texas A&M
- Arizona
- Kansas
- USC
- NC State
- Iowa
North Dakota will have the opportunity to bounce back when they host the Montana Grizzlies on September 7.
Meanwhile, Iowa State faces the daunting task of heading to No. 25 Iowa that same day.
As for McAfee, he’ll be back on air on Monday for his namesake sports talk show on ESPN and YouTube.
McAfee will also appear on College GameDay on September 7 to preview the next slate of games.
He has been a regular on the show since 2022.
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