ESPN College GameDay

Latest Episodes:

NCAA Bracket Breakdown: South Region Set for Chaos Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, & Bill Connelly, ESPN writer dive into their first gut reactions to the field, from Auburn’s No. 1 seed in the South Region to UC San Diego surging in with momentum. Plus, they break down key first-round matchups like Marquette vs. New Mexico and Louisville vs. Creighton, and debate how far teams like Yale and Michigan State can really go.

0:00 - Initial gut reactions to the tourney bracket

10:09 - Auburn: The number one seed in the south region

10:27 - UC San Diego entering the tourney with momentum

12:07 - Iowa State likely out after major player injury?

14:43 - Fun matchup: Marquette vs. New Mexico

15:46 - How far can Yale go?

18:00 - Spicy close matchup: Louisville vs. Creighton

19:28 - Michigan St: A chalky pick

22:05 - No. 1 seed Auburn doesn’t have a history of winning

24:00 - Should the SEC have 14 teams in the tourney?

27:16 - Preview: First Four play-in games

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The Most INTERESTING Hire In the MAC + Very Early Questions For Next Season Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel & ESPN writer Bill Connelly discuss Bowling Green's splashy offseason move by hiring Eddie George as their new head football coach - It's also a big win for the Mid-American Conference whose offseason has seen other coaches and players leave for greener pastures. The guys also look at early storylines for next season. Is Clemson back? Are they a top five team right now? Will Notre Dame's new roster get them to the College Football Playoff? Who will lead the charge at the quarterback position, Steve Angeli or CJ Carr?

0:00 - Why eyes are on Eddie George at Bowling Green

2:22 - The two emerging head coach hiring trends

6:10 - The talented coaches & players leaving the MAC

13:41 - The MAC rivalry you may not know about

14:19 - A way-too-early CFP scenario prediction

19:17 - Will Clemson be a top five team next season?

21:26 - In a 14-team CFP, what is the 4-4-2-2-1-1 model?

36:39 - How will head coach Marcus Freeman reset Notre Dame?

40:38 - Who will be Notre Dame's starting quarterback be next season?

42:23 - How is Rece on EA Sports CFB 25 Dynasty Mode?

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Details Of the Ceasefire Between the ACC, Florida State & Clemson! + NFL Draft Sleepers Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the bitter standoff between the ACC, Florida State, and Clemson that threatened to fracture the conference. Now that a settlement has emerged, they get into what it entails and if it's sustainable through 2030. Then, Field Yates, NFL Draft analyst joins the pod! He attended the NFL Combine and shares which players he thinks put on a standout performance and the possible hits Will Howard's and Shedeur Sanders' draft stock took.

0:00 - Why were the ACC, Florida State & Clemson at odds?

6:13 - How big of a deal is the ACC, FSU, Clemson settlement?

10:20 - How much revenue will be paid to players?

13:22 - What will college football look like in 2030?

15:39 - Will streaming services want to broadcast games?

18:18 - The best way to watch the NCAA Tournament

21:12 - How good are AI chat bots at NCAA Tourney trivia?

23:27 - Why teams will overthink DL Mason Graham

25:17 - The NFL draft difference makers outside the top 10

30:30 - Will Howard’s poor performance at the NFL Combine

35:26 - Did Shedeur Sanders shoot down his NFL draft stock?

39:54 - Field Yates’ near altercation at the NFL Combine

44:20 - Should teams be charged a timeout for faked injuries?

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NFL Draft: Where Are All The Quarterback SUPERSTARS Landing?! Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel & Matt Miller, NFL draft insider discuss the quarterback class lacking surefire stars and how this could potentially create volatility in the draft order. Specifically, they get into Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders who flashed toughness and precision throughout the season yet still needs the right team to believe in him. They also look at Travis Hunter, a two-way talent. Will he stick with the cornerback position, where great players are scarce, or chase the money at wide receiver? Finally, they evaluate some familiar-named quarterbacks expected to go in the latter rounds. Could one rise up to be an NFL star?

0:00 - Why college spring games could disappear

7:21 - What is the depth level of the 2025 NFL draft class?

9:52 - Will Travis Hunter play both ways in the NFL?

16:56 - The player to NOT be blindsided on

18:17 - Could QB Shedeur Sanders fall out of the top 10 draft picks?

24:23 - Pros & cons about QB Cam Ward

26:40 - Where will QBs Quinn Ewers, Jalen Milroe, Dillon Gabriel land in the draft?

31:00 - What kind of NIL deals do players at smaller schools have?

32:50 - Besides NIL, the highest currency in college football is…

36:37 - The best time to be a college free agent

38:00 - Where to find NIL data on schools?

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More SEC & Big Ten HIGH OCTANE Games To Hit The Calendar? Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the meeting of power brokers in New Orleans and how the decisions from this event could shift the balance of power in the sport. Will this lead to a future SEC and Big Ten partnership? If so, can the Big 12 and ACC level up their teams enough to remain in the sphere of relevance? Meanwhile, in basketball, the NCAA Tournament could expand to 76 teams. The guys get into how this doesn't just benefit teams at the top but is also transformative to those who can break through and get into the field.

0:00 - Should the SEC teams play 8, 9, or 10 conference games?

6:21 - What’s the best way to get more eyes on college football?

12:18 - Will the SEC & Big Ten form a future partnership?

15:48 - Why the current peace in college football won’t last

22:38 - The Big 12 & ACC need to bring the pressure

32:24 - Why expand the NCAA hoops tourney to 76 teams?

40:20 - The hoops tourney expansion primary positive effect

43:28 - Why QB John Mateer to Oklahoma is interesting

45:55 - Can QB Miller Moss sneak Louisville into the CFP?

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GAME-CHANGING Coaching Moves + Bill Belichick On The Recruiting Trail Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss why former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles could be the missing piece that pushes Penn State to win a national title. Also, they say Clemson is flying under the radar when they shouldn't be. The guys bring out all the details on how Clemson leveled up. Then, ESPN national recruiting reporter Eli Lederman joins the pod to talk North Carolina, specifically how Bill Belichick has yet to put together a star-studded roster. Finally, Rece and Pete get into the underrated basketball history at Auburn and Alabama, and why you should have eyes on that Saturday matchup!

0:00 - Which Ohio State coaches are out?

5:00 - Penn State to win a title with DC Jim Knowles?

8:00 - Why you shouldn't sleep on Clemson right now

10:53 - Is Texas the number one team going into next season?

13:41 - What to expect from the College Football Playoff meetings

20:30 - Did Belichick recruit any high school stars for UNC?

23:27 - Who did Belichick bring in from the transfer portal?

32:15 - What you need to know about UNC quarterback Bryce Baker

35:00 - Why Auburn vs Alabama is a blockbuster college basketball game

45:30 - Rece's first-ever concert was with Elvis Presley?

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All The GOOD And The BAD From The First 12-Team Playoff Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, take a birds eye view of the first year of the 12-team playoff and discuss the concerns they have from both the regular season and the postseason. Moreover, they get into the broader topic of college player professionalization and how they see that moving forward. Then they touch on the best stories that caught their eye and the stories coming this fall.

The pod has a survey! Fill it out to contribute your thoughts on how the pod went this season:

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0:00 - Welcome

1:50 - CFP National Championship recap with Ryan McGee

15:28 - What fixes should be made to the 12-team playoff?

19:30 - How should conference disparity be addressed?

27:30 - How should college player professionalization be addressed?

34:43 - How to differentiate college football from the NFL?

40:24 - The best parts of the regular season

45:10 - What to look forward to next season

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The MOMENT Ohio State Won The National Title Game Against Notre Dame Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Harry Lyles Jr., host of "Countdown to GameDay" on the ESPN College Football YouTube channel, discuss the adversity Ohio State overcame to win the College Football Playoff National Championship, the end of the narrative about Ryan Day's job being at stake, Notre Dame's promising future and more!

0:00 - Ohio State claims 7th national title

2:41 - Ohio State coach Ryan Day's gutsy call

4:34 - Did Notre Dame respond correctly on third-and-11?

5:39 - Ohio State's formula to secure the win

7:28 - What will Notre Dame's roster look like next season?

11:25 - The narrative that's been put to rest

12:20 - What's in store for Ohio State next season?

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Can Notre Dame REALLY Take Down Ohio State In The CFP Title Game? Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss Notre Dame's resiliency, the path to outlasting Ohio State, and how a national title will affect each coach in the eyes of their programs and fans. Then, Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti joins! He breaks down what he's seen from both Notre Dame and Indiana when he played them this past season. He also talks about how quarterback Kurtis Rourke played an entire season on a torn ACL, how he's rebuilding Indiana, and what to expect from their new quarterback!

0:00 - How Notre Dame has found ways to win

5:00 - The lore around Notre Dame

9:00 - How to deal with Ohio State's offensive line

12:37 - Ohio State fans fully embracing Coach Ryan Day?

18:11 - Notre Dame vs. Ohio State: Previous matchups

23:29 - National Championship game predictions

30:23 - Indiana coach Curt Cignetti joins!

31:00 - Cignetti on this year's transfer portal

32:44 - Kurtis Rourke played an entire season on a torn ACL?

34:00 - Cignetti on signing ex-Cal QB Fernando Mendoza

35:53 - Cignetti breaks down how the title game will go down

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The Mistake That Cost Texas The Cotton Bowl? Jan 11, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, discuss the moment when Texas could've turned the tide of the game, Texas' future with Arch Manning, Jack Sawyer's unyielding loyalty and impeccable leadership with the Buckeyes, and If Notre Dame can keep the national title game close against Ohio State.

0:00 - Ohio State's soul killing plays

4:57 - Ohio State vs Texas: Who had the better regular season?

6:30 - Ohio State Jack Sawyer's scoop-and-score

9:09 - The person that bleeds buckeyes from their veins and their soul

11:16 - Is Texas close to eventually winning a national title?

15:20 - Notre Dame to put up a fight against Ohio State in national title game?

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