ESPN College GameDay

Latest Episodes:

Boston College HC Bill O'Brien on coming home + why Missouri AD Desireé Reed-Francois would leave for Arizona Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Boston College head coach Bill O'Brien to discuss how he's constructing his program - from targeting o-line players, to developmental coaches, to incorporating NIL. Then he gets into his previous experience and how programs like Penn State, the Houston Texans, and New England Patriots shaped him as a coach. Then, Rece and Pete get into why former Missouri Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois would leave for the University of Arizona, the Pac-12's move which shows why they don't want to go away, and what Pete thinks everyone should keep an eye on in college football right now.

0:00 - Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast

02:12 - First Impressions of New Boston College HC Bill O’Brien

03:46 - Boston College HC Bill O’Brien Sits With Pete Thamel

07:04 - HC O’Brien: We Need To Target The Right Guys To Build The Team

13:52 - HC O’Brien: Boston College Has To Be Part of NIL Landscape

21:35 - O’Brien Kept Penn State Football From Disintegrating

24:49 - Boston College Faces A Challenging Schedule

30:38 - Why Would Francois Leave Miz For Arizona

36:42 - Pac-12 Hints They Don’t Intend To Go Away

40:05 - Gameday Is Headed To UCONN This Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nebraska HC Matt Rhule on Recruiting QB DYLAN RAIOLA + Rebuilding Cornhuskers Football Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule to discuss how his NFL experience - paired with his time at Temple and Baylor - will help him revive Cornhuskers football, why Rhule rooted for defensive coordinator Tony White to get the UCLA head coach job, and what in the world a Runza is. Then, Rece and Pete get into what it's been like working with former Alabama head coach Nick Saban since he joined ESPN, how Pat McAfee has been able to bring Saban's personality out front and center, and how sure they are that Alabama fans are totally patient, pragmatic, and calm following Saban's retirement and not at all worried that Ryan Grubb is going to the Seahawks.

0:00 - Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast

01:24 - Ohio St, UCLA, Boston College Coaching Moves

04:05 - HC Matt Rhule On The Difference Between Year 1 & 2

06:05 - HC Matt Rhule Brings NFL Experience To Nebraska

09:00 - Rhule On The Attraction Of Being A College Coach

13:12 - HC Matt Rhule On Rebuilding Nebraska Football

19:23 - HC Matt Rhule On QB Dylan Railoa Coming To Nebraska

23:04 - HC Matt Rhule: I Just Want To See Our Players Rip It

25:55 - HC Matt Rhule DC Tony White Is The Coolest In The Room

28:02 - Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts’ Farm Stories

30:08 - HC Matt Rhule: Jahmal Banks Has Raised The Bar

32:05 - HC Rhule: Security Didn’t Want Me Storming The Court

33:23 - Nebraska HC Matt Rhule’s Favorite Local Lincoln Spots

37:38 - Former Bama HC Nick Saban Joining ESPN Was No Surprise

43:36 - Nick Saban Is Already 100 MPH On NFL Draft Draft Prep

44:50 - Bringing Out Nick Saban’s Personality On Gameday

47:26 - Peculiar For UCLA Chip Kelly To Go To Ohio State

51:25 - Alabama Shouldn’t Worry About Grubb Going To Seahawks

59:11 - The Apple Vision Pro Is The Bane Of Our Existence

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Washington HC Jedd Fisch Talks About Football ROYALTY On His Staff, the Big Ten-SEC Advisory Group, Bon Jovi > Springsteen Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Washington head coach Jedd Fisch to discuss the two iconic head coaching sires - Stephen Belichick and Brennan Carroll - on his staff, what he's seen of Washington quarterback Will Rogers, and how the NCAA tampering rules affected his departure from Arizona. He also shares a story about his relentless pursuit to get into the OJ trial. Then, Rece and Pete get into the details of the upcoming 12-team College Football Playoff structure, Dartmouth players possibly unionizing, and whether or not Rece is jinxing the North Carolina Tar Heels!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NCAA being SUED 👀 Michigan after Harbaugh + NFL Draft Talk Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss Tennessee being investigated by the NCAA for NIL violations, and the subsequent attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA. They also get into the future of Michigan under Sherrone Moore and then bring in ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller to go over what we can expect from the NFL draft.Tune in next week for when new University of Washington Head Coach Jedd Fisch joins the pod!0:00 - NCAA Investigating Tennessee For NIL Violations

11:35 - Update: NCAA Is Sued Post-Tennessee Investigation

14:30 - Michigan Hires Sherrone Moore As Head Coach To Replace Harbaugh

23:26 - NFL Draft Prediction: QBs Will Dominate The Top

32:20 - Are We In An Era of Extreme Offense?

36:44 - Will There Be a 1st Round RB In The NFL Draft This Year?

43:00 - The Big 12 Football Schedule For 2024 Is Here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ohio State Buckeyes NEW Roster Additions From Alabama; Way-Too-Early Pre-Season Game Picks; Are Coaches Being Judged Fairly? Jan 26, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel talk about Ohio State’s boatload of portal additions - including Alabama quarterback Julian Sayin and Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs - and how this affects new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s program in the upcoming season. Rece and Pete also get into how Ohio State head coach Ryan Day built and supplemented his team. Then, they make some way-too-early pre-season game picks and get into a discussion on how fairly coaches are being judged.

00:05 Ohio State's Shift In Roster Makeup

09:38 What If We See Ohio St vs Michigan In The Playoffs?

15:20 Way Too Early Team Picks For Pre-Season

19:42 Does The Playoff Affect How We Judge Coaches?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EMERGENCY POD: Jim Harbaugh Leaves Michigan To Coach Chargers Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

Pete Thamel and ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter convene for an emergency podcast to talk about the news of Jim Harbaugh leaving the national champion Michigan Wolverines to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. They get into what kept Harbaugh from getting on the plane to Atlanta, what this means for the Michigan program, and the possibility of Michigan offensive coordinator/offensive line coach, Sherrone Moore, stepping into the head coach role.

1:33 What kept Harbaugh from going to Atlanta?

2:10 What’s next for Michigan?

2:34 Who will be Michigan’s next head coach?

5:36 Adam Schefter’s Harbaugh memories

7:44 Expectations for Sherrone Moore

11:20 How well does Harbaugh pair with Charges Quarterback Justin Herbert?

12:55 Where is Michigan Quarterback, JJ McCarthy’s, range in the draft?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Changing of The Guard: Jim Harbaugh’s Unknown “Biblical” Future; Life After Nick Saban at Alabama Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel reflect on new coach hirings, retirements and changes that have shaken the college football world. They discuss latest news of Freshman Caleb Downs possibly entering the transfer portal, the surprise retirement announcement of Nick Saban and his reasons why plus where Jim Harbaugh will land next. We get a behind the scenes look into Rece’s thoughts on his exclusive interviews with these coaches. Hopefully Jim Harbaugh won’t announce where he’s coaching next while Pete is on vacation.

Rece's Exclusive Interview with Jim Harbaugh After Winning the National Championship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yljRESjsZjo&ab_channel=ESPN

Rece's Exclusive Interview with Nick Saban After Announcing His Retirement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-NTaEbfAtg&ab_channel=ESPN

00:20 - Caleb Downs Headed To Portal

02:04 - Alabama Ripple Effects After Saban’s Retirement

04:48 - Nick Saban BTS Interview Moments

18:01 - Asking Jim Harbaugh About His Future Plans

21:16 - The Question Rece Wishes He Asked Jim Harbaugh

22:31 - Jim Harbaugh BTS Interview Moments

25:12 - Jim Is The Best Team Builder

27:29 - If Harbaugh Leaves Michigan, Who Takes Over?

29:26 - Nick Saban BTS Interview Moments

32:28 - Rece’s Early Reporter Days Covering Nick Saban

36:35 - Saban and Harbaugh’s Relationship With The Media

39:33 - Alabama and Michigan Players Headed To The Portal

42:26 - Teams Moving Quickly On Portal Players

44:13 - Washington Hires Arizona’s Jedi Fish As HC

47:09 - Arizona Hires San Jose St’s Brent Brennan As HC

51:22 - Harbaugh To Leave Michigan During Pete’s Vacation

52:36 - College Gameday Pod Off-Season Preview

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EMERGENCY POD: Nick Saban Hangs It Up Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel convene for an emergency podcast following Nick Saban’s retirement from coaching. The guys discuss how it would always be a surprise when Saban decided to retire, if he is the greatest coach in the history of college football, how he revived the University of Alabama football program, the university using Saban’s success to boost academics, what Rece is hearing from Alabama fans, what’s next for Saban after coaching, and who’s on the shortlist of candidates to coach the Crimson Tide.

0:00 Nick Saban retires from Alabama

1:22 Saban’s retirement was always going to be a surprise

4:07 Rece on Saban: Great coach in history of CFB

7:53 Alabama was down when Saban arrived in 2007

8:26 Alabama capitalized on football’s success

9:36 Saban’s impact on the Tuscaloosa community

11:20 What Rece is hearing from fellow alumni

14:53 What’s next for Nick Saban?

17:58 Early Alabama coaching candidates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michigan Wins National Championship the Harbaugh Way Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are chatting at midfield of NRG Stadium following the Michigan Wolverines’ 34-13 victory over the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff national championship game. The guys discuss Michigan dominating despite Washington’s chances, the Wolverines relying on the big play, what makes this a Jim Harbaugh-style championship, the legacy of this win for Michigan, what’s next for Harbaugh, and parting thoughts on the 2023 season.

0:49 MICHIGAN DOMINATED, WASHINGTON HAD CHANCES

1:39 DONOVAN RETURNS FROM WITNESS PROTECTION

2:08 MICHIGAN’S BIG PLAYS

2:38 WASHINGTON WAS A LITTLE OVER-AMPED TO START

3:35 A HARBAUGH CHAMPIONSHIP: DOMINANT, MESSY AWKWARD

6:00 MICHIGAN PROVED TO BE ELITE

7:35 BLAKE CORUM’S CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENTS

8:33 HARBAUGH WON WITH HIS ROOTS: DEFENSE & RUNNING THE BALL

9:16 MICHIGAN PLANTS THE FLAG

10:18 WHAT’S NEXT FOR JIM HARBAUGH?

13:13 FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE 2023 SEASON

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

National Championship Picks: Michigan-Washington; Michael Penix’s Massive Hands; Jim Harbaugh the Artful Dodger Jan 06, 2024

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel share their final thoughts on the Michigan Wolverines against the Washington Huskies in the national championship game. They discuss an update on Dillon Johnson’s health, Michael Penix Jr.’s massive hands, how both teams scouted the College Football Playoff, if Rece revealed his man crush to Will Johnson, keeping an eye on the Wolverines’ defensive personnel, who they like to win the game, the latest on the portal moves and NFL draft declarations, and if Michigan would target Kalen DeBoer if Jim Harbaugh left Ann Arbor. Later, GameDay's Jen Lada talks to former Wolverine and current Cleveland Brown Maurice Hurst from the Mercedes-Benz ESPN College Football Podcast Sprinter.

1:20 DILLON JOHNSON INJURY UPDATE

5:46 DOES WASH OL TROY FAUTANU HAVE TROUBLE BUYING PANTS?

6:30 MICHAEL PENIX’S MASSIVE HANDS

9:30 THAMEL: WASHINGTON HAD TWO SEASONS

11:00 WASH & MICH SCOUTED ALL THE POTENTIAL CFP TEAMS

12:00 BOTH TEAMS SEEM VERY RELAXED

12:39 DID RECE REVEAL HIS MAN CRUSH TO WILL JOHNSON?

14:21 WASHINGTON’S THE UNDERDOG AGAIN (+4.5)

21:30 MICHIGAN’S DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL WILL BE TELLING

25:50 MICHIGAN HASN’T SEEN AN OFFENSE LIKE WASHINGTON

28:00 PICK THE GAME: MICHIGAN (-4.5) V. WASHINGTON

36:30 TEXAS’ TE JA'TAVION SANDERS DECLARES FOR THE NFL DRAFT