For the first time ever, ESPN’s College GameDay will be heading to Berkeley this weekend for a highly anticipated matchup between Cal and Miami. The pregame show’s visit to the West Coast is set to be historic, as it checks another college football campus off its list of must-visit locations. With Cal’s inclusion, only five campuses remain unvisited by the iconic show: Rutgers, Illinois, Maryland, Syracuse, and Virginia.
In the lead-up to the weekend, Cal alum Aaron Rodgers joined The Pat McAfee Show to preview his alma mater’s big moment on College GameDay. As expected, the conversation started off in a typical Rodgers fashion, full of lighthearted banter.
Rodgers eagerly shared some of his favorite spots in Berkeley, giving McAfee a rundown of where to go for the best local food. He praised a local hot dog joint as a “staple” and highlighted a popular burrito spot that was a frequent haunt for him during his playing days with the Golden Bears.
But then, as often happens when Rodgers is involved, the conversation took an unexpected and bizarre turn.
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During his recommendations, Rodgers suggested McAfee “take a walk around that little marina there,” before pivoting to a much darker topic. “That’s where there was an infamous case,” Rodgers noted, referencing the location where Scott Peterson allegedly dumped the body of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, during the infamous 2002 murder case.
The sudden shift from Mexican food to murder caught everyone off guard, as Rodgers seemingly couldn’t resist bringing up the dark chapter in Berkeley’s history.
ESPN’s College GameDay social media team quickly took note of Rodgers’ remarks and shared only select parts of his preview. Conveniently, they chose to leave out the final two minutes where Rodgers mentioned the Scott Peterson case. The edited clip kept things focused on his food recommendations and left the more bizarre commentary on the cutting room floor.
This isn’t the first time Rodgers has made headlines with his off-field commentary. The quarterback has become known for his unpredictable and sometimes controversial takes, and it’s likely not the last time he’ll steer a conversation into unexpected territory.
As for College GameDay, the Berkeley trip is expected to draw a massive crowd, with Cal fans encouraged to arrive early to secure spots on set.
The show will air from 9 AM to noon ET, meaning a local start time of 6 AM for West Coast viewers. Fans attending the show will have a long day ahead, as the Cal-Miami game isn’t scheduled to kick off until 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT). The lengthy gap between the show and the game might offer attendees, including McAfee, the chance to explore some of the local spots Rodgers recommended—though it remains to be seen if the marina makes McAfee’s final list of stops.
With College GameDay in Berkeley for the first time, the excitement is building, and Cal fans are preparing for a memorable day, even if Rodgers’ offbeat commentary won’t be part of the official broadcast.
