ESPN College GameDay

Latest Episodes:

College GameDay: The Differentiator Between Zach Edey & Donovan Clingan Apr 07, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and ESPN College Basketball Insider Jeff Borzello break down the Men's NCAA Final Four games - specifically the early slog in the NC State vs. Purdue game and the shooting performance Alabama's Mark Sears put up against UConn's Stephon Castle. And ahead of the championship game, they get into what UConn's Donovan Clingan needs to do to stop Purdue's Zach Edey.

0:00 No. 1 seeds set to face off in men's championship game

3:07 NC State vs. Purdue early slog

8:55 Should Purdue worry about Braden Smith?

14:57 UConn vs. Purdue battle of the bigs

19:15 Foul or not on UConn's Aaliyah Edwards

23:12 Alabama needed to create more threes

25:18 In comparison: UConn and the great Duke teams

26:56 In comparison: UConn and the great Florida teams

27:57 In comparison: UConn and Villanova's 2018 team

32:44 Alabama's Mark Sears was a warrior

34:55 Who will win the men's championship game?

37:34 Who will win the women's championship game?

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ESPN NFL Draft Analyst & Insider Matt Miller and Early Draft Predictions Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

On today’s episode of the College Gameday Podcast, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst & Insider Matt Miller joins Rece Davis and Pete Thamel to discuss quarterback draft prospects Drake Maye and JJ McCarthy. Matt shares which team is the best fit for Drake Maye and why JJ McCarthy may not be drafted in the first round. Then, the guys dive into why NC State’s basketball star, DJ Burns, would make a great offensive tackle. Finally, Matt shares which player will be the biggest surprise in the 2024 NFL Draft!

0:00 Welcome To the College Gameday Podcast

01:09 Don't Sleep on UNC QB Drake Maye

03:43 Which Team Does QB Drake Maye Best Fit With?

07:35 Could JJ McCarthy Not Be Drafted In The 1st Round

11:03 Are There Concerns for JJ McCarthy’s Shoulder Issues?

14:45 Huge Turnout For QBs at Michigan Pro Day

20:07 How To Avoid Group Think in NFL Scouting

23:08 Learned Lessons in NFL Scouting

26:45 Players Matt Would Jump On The Table For

28:33 Chargers Will Pick Michigan's Mike Sainristil

31:10 Predicting The Biggest Surprise In The Draft

33:57 Pete’s Prediction of 6 QBS Drafted In First Round

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College GameDay: Is UConn In The Greatest-Team-Ever Convo?; NC State & Alabama's Path to the Championship; Donovan Clingan's Landscaping Side Job Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss UConn being in the greatest-team-ever conversation and how Dan Hurley would fit into the NBA. Then, Pete gives a preview of his latest story - Donovan Clingan's side job as a landscaper. On another note, Rece and Pete turn their attention to NC State and chat about the hope that program has spurred for themselves from the tournament.

0:00 Rece: Is there such thing as a repeat champion?

2:10 Is UConn in the greatest-team-ever convo?

6:21 The NC State program now has hope

8:41 NC State and Alabama's path to the championship

11:49 How to stop NC State's DJ Burns

13:01 Could DJ Burns play for the NBA or NFL?

18:30 UConn's Donovan Clingan's side job as a landscaper

20:36 Dan Hurley's coaching track record

26:21 Could UConn's Dan Hurley be an NBA coach?

31:10 A Dan Hurley family story

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College GameDay: The Men’s Final Four Teams ARE SET; UConn Fights For a Back-to-Back Title; Duke’s Future with No. 1 College Recruit Cooper Flagg Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

Pete Thamel and ESPN College Basketball Insider Jeff Borzello discuss the teams that have just landed in the Final Four spots in the Men’s NCAA tournament – specifically how a missed free throw by Virginia in the ACC tournament impacted NC State’s trajectory to the Final Four. They also talk about UConn’s evisceration of Illinois, the No. 2 offense in the country. And although Duke lost to NC State, Borzello notes that the Blue Devils’ future is bright as they are looking forward to Cooper Flagg, the number one college recruit in the country who has committed to their program for the following season. Finally, the two round out the pod with a preview of the Final Four games and who they think will be the NCAA tournament champion.

0:00 The Final Four teams are set

1:05 A missed free throw in the ACC tournament affected NC State’s trajectory to now

8:49 Illinois should’ve adjusted to UConn’s Donovan Clingan

12:01 The difficulty for UConn to win a back-to-back title

24:22 How Zach Edey fits into Purdue’s game

29:38 Tennessee’s dependence on Dalton Knecht

31:53 Breaking down NC State DJ Burns’ game

37:22 The future of Duke with No. 1 college recruit Cooper Flagg

42:17 Final Four preview: Alabama vs UConn

45:20 Final Four preview: Purdue vs NC State

48:20 The best basketball players in the portal right now

51:25 Who will be the men’s NCAA tournament champion?

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College GameDay: John Calipari's Future LOOMS Over College Basketball; Coaching News for Louisville, SMU, WVU and More; March Madness Sweet 16 Game Previews Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

Pete Thamel and ESPN College Basketball Insider Jeff Borzello discuss Kentucky head coach John Calipari's uncertain future with the Wildcats. They delve into his need to change his staff, his need to shift his focus to developing older rosters, and the pros and cons that come with working with him. From the school's perspective they get into the $33M+ the Wildcats would have to spend to buy Calipari out, and the lack of coaching options out there for his replacement. Next, Borzello highlights which programs are still in need of a coach and which programs that would support a coach if a coach were to land there. Lastly, Thamel and Borzello recap their favorite games and players of the NCAA Tournament so far and preview the upcoming games they are looking to watch in the Sweet 16 round.

0:00 Will Kentucky fire Calipari this week?

7:45 SMU can afford Calipari's $33M buyout

13:22 Adjustments Calipari should make

26:48 Louisville caught flat footed in head coach search

30:38 Are all top coaches headed to SEC and Big Ten?

36:55 Schools in need of a coach

50:00 Jeff's favorite NCAA Tournament moments so far

55:53 Sweet 16 game previews

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Clemson prepping to LEAVE the ACC? + The CFP-ESPN $7.8B Deal MISSING PIECE Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel dive into Clemson's lawsuit against the ACC - specifically how this affects Clemson's, Florida State's, and North Carolina's future with the league, and whether or not ACC will even remain a league. They also get into how this affects less profitable football programs like Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, and Indiana, and take time to really underscore how important it is for programs like those to become more competitive in order to not get left behind. Then they shift their attention to the College Football Playoff - ESPN six-year $7.8 billion contract and question how it's fathomable that players aren't getting a cut of the pie. Lastly, Pete shares the news that Washington's Troy Dannen replaces Trev Alberts as Nebraska AD, and that Iowa's OT Kadyn Proctor is reentering the portal and rejoining Alabama.

0:00 Welcome To The College GameDay Podcast

01:02 Clemson Files Lawsuit Against ACC

03:45 Clemson’s Lawsuit Shifts Eyes To North Carolina

06:35 Salvaging the ACC Without Clemson and FSU

12:40 Clemson Files Lawsuit Against ACC

16:22 The Value That Is Unique To College Sports

27:30 CFP and ESPN Deal

31:30 Troy Dannen In As AD Nebraska

39:11 Kadyn Proctor Enters Transfer Portal

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College GameDay: The Men's NCAA Tournament Bracket Region-By-Region Preview Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel preview the men's NCAA tournament bracket. They discuss their takeaways for each region, possible upsets, and then make their final four and conference champion picks. More specifically, they discuss UConn as the number one seed and who could possibly take them on, the pros and cons of Arizona, their doubts for Houston making it very far, what to keep in mind when watching NC State, what Kentucky brings to the table, Purdue's and Tennessee's baggage, and so much more!

03:30 - East preview: UConn's pathway

13:00 - East preview: Possible upsets

16:45 - East preview: The effect of Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr.

22:30 - West preview: North Carolina's defense against other teams

25:00 West preview: Possible upsets

28:25 - West preview: The problem with Clemson

37:00 - West preview: The intrigue of Arizona

44:20 - South preview: The potholes in Houston's pathway

46:00 - South preview: How quickly will NC State fall?

58:34 - South preview: Kentucky's Reed Sheppard

01:05:51 - Midwest Preview: Purdue's & Tennessee's baggage

01:11:00 - Midwest preview: Possible upsets

01:22:00 - Full bracket preview: Final picks

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Syracuse HC Fran Brown on GETTING THE JOB + Trev Alberts' Expected Move To Texas A&M Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel share their shock for the news that Nebraska's AD and alum Trev Alberts is expected to agree to a five-year deal with Texas A&M, then expand on Alberts' lengthy history with the Cornhuskers and why they think money may not be the primary deciding factor in this potential move. Then they sit down with Syracuse head coach Fran Brown to discuss the text that got him his job, the obstacle he faces while on the job, and how he plans to dominate recruiting in New York, New Jersey, and beyond.

0:00 Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast

0:20 Texas A&M Hires Trev Alberts as New AD

09:54 Pete Reacts To Syracuse Fran Brown Hire

11:24 How Fran Brown Got The Syracuse HC Job

25:00 How Brown’s NJ Roots Influence Syracuse’s Program

34:00 Brown Addresses Recruiting Against Big Ten & SEC Teams

49:00 It’s Important To Be There For Players And Staff

56:05 What Determines Success For Syracuse Football

57:23 Syracuse’s Dino BBQ Or Clemson’s Smoking Pig?

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MSU HC Jonathan Smith's Arrival to the BIG TEN Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith to discuss his swift transition into the role, him having to take on the transfer portal chaos, and how he sees the in-state rivalry with Michigan. Smith also gets into his QB days at Oregon with Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, and what it's like to rub arms with MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo. Lastly, Rece reflects on an old MSU game where comedian Ken Jeong went viral after shouting out his wife, "Tran, you complete me Ho. That's her last name. That's her last name. Relax, ESPN."

0:00 - Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast

00:18 - Why Are We Moving Off The 12-Team Playoff?

12:08 - Unique League Matchups

22:54 - Coach Smith On His Arrival at MSU

31:51 - Coach Smith: Tom Izzo Is Awesome To Lean On

35:22 - MSU Coach Smith Gives a Snapshot of Aidan Chiles

51:28 - Jonathan Smith: Ochocinco Caught My Best Throw

52:52 - Rece: The MSU Fight Song is Underrated

01:01:45 - Rece's Memory of Ken Jeong at Michigan St

01:06:06 - Can Pete sing the Syracuse fight song?

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Caleb Williams insists he has NO AGENDA ahead of the draft + Rece warns of the rush you get from Indianapolis' St. Elmo's cocktail sauce Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and ESPN.com Senior Writer Ryan McGee discuss former USC quarterback Caleb Williams' excitement ahead of the NFL Draft and how he's not pushing an agenda by saying he'd be "excited" if the Chicago Bears take him at No. 1. They also make some player leader picks ahead of the NFL Combine. Lastly, Rece and Ryan chat about how they haven't even adjusted to a 12-team playoff before discussions picked up about a 14-team playoff, and how, for field storming, we should just be like Clemson and walk off the field.

0:00 - Welcome To The College GameDay Podcast

0:15 - Indianapolis Wind Cut My Spleen

01:23 - NFL Draft Underwear Olympics

02:43 - Caleb Williams Leverage with NFL Teams

10:30 - Caleb Williams No Agenda

14:15 - Run the Fastest 40 At The Combine

20:49 - St. Elmo’s Cocktail Sauce

23:00 - 14 Team Playoff

28:24 - Court Storming

37:30 - Craziest Field Storming

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