The Aporia · Nick Saban hits Pat McAfee with weed roast after viral studio smoking controversy

Nick Saban hits Pat McAfee with weed roast after viral studio smoking controversy

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Young, G. (2026, September 19). Nick Saban hits Pat McAfee with weed roast after viral studio smoking controversy. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/09/19/sports/nick-saban-roasts-pat-mcafee-after-studio-smoking-controversy/

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Quick Summary

Pat McAfee was seen smoking what appeared to be marijuana on his ESPN studio set earlier in the week. During an appearance on "College GameDay," former Alabama coach Nick Saban joked about it by suggesting that if his team had access to McAfee’s “gummies,” they might have won more games, indirectly referencing different forms of cannabis products and poking fun at McAfee's actions without directly condemning them.

Written by AI on 2026-09-19, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Pat McAfee, an ESPN media personality known for discussing marijuana openly, was seen smoking what appeared to be a joint in his studio earlier this week. Despite the controversy, McAfee faced no repercussions from his employer. On ESPN's "College GameDay" set on Saturday morning, former Alabama football coach Nick Saban playfully called out McAfee for his behavior during a segment about calming nerves before games.

When Saban was asked if he had ever used “ancient medicine” to calm players, such as burning sage, he cleverly responded that having some of McAfee's gummies might have helped them win more games. While the substances are different, Saban’s comment referenced the earlier incident humorously. This exchange highlighted how the controversy was handled lightly among sports personalities and commentators.

Written for “Nick Saban Weed Controversy” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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New York Post

Hedges 1 of 10 claims Outlet record 66/100

“While both articles refer to Pat McAfee smoking in his studio, Article A focuses on an unspecified lit item and a vape pen incident, whereas Article B specifically mentions a marijuana joint and subsequent comments by Nick Saban.”

Signals How these are calculated →

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sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

0 of 16 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

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66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Who wrote this

Grant Young

184 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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Narrative

Claims (16 extracted, 0 hedged)

ESPN media personality Pat McAfee was seen smoking what looked to be a marijuana joint in his studio earlier this week. asserted

what → see → studio

McAfee (who has also spoken about his love for marijuana in the past) was not put in hot water by his employers after this studio smoking controversy raised eyebrows more than the act itself. asserted

controversy → speak → act

That is not to say that McAfee escaped from the situation unscathed. asserted

McAfee → say → situation

Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban called McAfee out in a hilarious way when the two were on ESPN’s “College GameDay” set on Saturday morning. asserted

two → call → morning

“Coach, have you ever used any, like, ancient medicine to potentially calm the boys? asserted

you → use → boys

You know what I’m talking about? asserted

I → know → what

Cause I’ve done that. asserted

I → do → that

Keep the bad spirits, keep the anxiety [away],” McAfee said to Saban at one point during the broadcast. asserted

McAfee → keep → broadcast

“You do that in the studio! asserted

You → do → studio

Just calm the lads down,” Kirk Herbstreit said to McAfee. asserted

Herbstreit → calm → McAfee

Then Saban added, “I actually think if we had some of your gummies, we would have won more games.” asserted

we → add → games

Gummies are different from whatever McAfee was consuming in his studio. asserted

McAfee → consume → studio

But it’s clear what the legendary coach was referring to, especially after what Herbstreit said right before. asserted

Herbstreit → ’ → what

Given Saban’s reputation of being a no-nonsense, disciplinarian coach, one would imagine he doesn’t think too kindly about McAfee’s actions. asserted

he → give → actions

This was not the first time McAfee has done something similar on set, as he was spotted taking a hit from a vape pen before the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. asserted

he → do → Bay

ESPN has already made it clear that it doesn’t intend to punish McAfee, so this humiliation from Saban is probably the only punishment he’ll face. asserted

he → make → Saban

Nick Saban hits Pat McAfee with weed roast after viral studio smoking controversy

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Claims (16 extracted, 0 hedged)