ESPN College GameDay

Latest Episodes:

Who’s The Team To Beat?! Georgia, Texas, LSU & More Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel preview the SEC heading into the 2026 college football season. Has the conference lost its place atop the sport or is the SEC ready to reassert its dominance. The crew breaks down whether Georgia’s offense can deliver another SEC title, Arch Manning’s chances of leading Texas to the top, pls can Ole Miss contend without Lane Kiffin and can Lane Kiffin win immediately at LSU?

0:00 - Welcome

0:30 - Has the SEC lost its place atop college football?

9:54 - Can Georgia’s offense deliver another SEC title?

13:59 - Can Arch Manning lead Texas to an SEC title?

20:00 - Is Oklahoma ready to win the SEC?

23:09 - CFP debate: Can SEC teams lose three games?

28:57 - Can Ole Miss contend without Lane Kiffin?

38:24 - Can Texas A&M return to the CFP?

42:32 - Can Lane Kiffin win big immediately at LSU?

56:59 - Can Alabama reclaim its place among the SEC elite?

1:03:22 - Can Tennessee contend with a new quarterback?

1:09:39 - SEC title game: Who gets there and who wins?

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🔥 Belichick, Dabo or Norvell: Who Survives the Season? Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and Ryan McGee wrap up their ACC Conference Preview by asking the question: Who survives the season? They break down the pressure facing Bill Belichick at UNC, Mike Norvell at Florida State and Dabo Swinney at Clemson. Plus, can James Franklin revive Virginia Tech? Could Cal or Pitt shake up the ACC race? What’s ahead for Duke, Wake Forest, Syracuse, and Boston College?

0:00 - Welcome

0:56 - Belichick, Norvell or Dabo: Who survives the season?

4:24 - Will Belichick return in 2027?

5:00 - UNC’s portal plan: What went wrong?

18:23 - Can Mike Norvell survive another losing season?

24:04 - ACC exit plans and landing spots

28:32 - Is Dabo Swinney under pressure at Clemson?

36:28 - Can James Franklin revive Virginia Tech?

41:20 - Can Cal make noise in the ACC?

42:47 - Can Duke & Wake Forest do it again?

44:56 - Can Pitt enter the ACC title race?

47:07 - Syracuse & Boston College: What’s ahead?

51:19 - What is proper post-hunting etiquette?

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ACC PREVIEW: Miami’s CFP Hopes + Notre Dame’s Big Expectations Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and Ryan McGee kick off Part 1 of the ACC Conference Preview with the biggest storylines heading into 2026. Can the ACC change its national perception? Can Miami return to the CFP? Plus, they break down Notre Dame’s evolution and the other ACC contenders that could make a run this season.

0:00 - Welcome

4:15 - Can ACC change its national perception?

11:19 - ACC goes all in on Friday night football

16:41 - Miami’s path back to the CFP

19:35 - Can Miami reload in the trenches?

24:07 - Can Notre Dame leave no doubt in 2026?

27:09 - Can CJ Carr become college football’s top QB?

32:10 - Notre Dame: From Brian Kelly to Marcus Freeman

38:02 - ACC teams that could make a run: Georgia Tech

41:05 - ACC teams that could make a run: Louisville

46:40 - ACC teams that could make a run: SMU

48:04 - Can Virginia build on its breakout season?

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Big Ten Sleepers: Can Wisconsin, Nebraska or Washington break through in 2026? Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

The College GameDay Podcast continues its 2026 Big Ten football season preview as Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel examine the conference’s sleepers, spoilers and potential breakout teams. Can Wisconsin rebound under Luke Fickell? Could Demond Williams Jr. and Washington crash the Big Ten championship race? Are Maryland, Illinois, Nebraska, UCLA, Iowa or Minnesota ready to make a leap? The crew also discusses Pat Fitzgerald’s first season at Michigan State, Bob Chesney’s UCLA rebuild, Chip Kelly taking over Northwestern’s offense and the debut of the new Ryan Field. Plus, has NIL and the transfer portal erased the SEC’s talent advantage—and should three straight national championships make the Big Ten the best conference in college football? 0:00 Big Ten Football Preview Part 2: Sleepers and Teams to Watch 1:27 Big Ten vs. SEC: Did NIL Shift College Football’s Balance of Power? 11:28 Wisconsin Football Preview: Is Luke Fickell on the Hot Seat? 13:54 Maryland Football Preview: Can Malik Washington Lead a Breakthrough? 15:32 Illinois Football Preview: Can Bret Bielema Keep the Illini Rising? 18:42 Nebraska Football Preview: Can the Huskers Finally Break Through? 20:22 UCLA Football Preview: Bob Chesney and Nico Iamaleava 22:42 Iowa Football Preview: Can the Hawkeyes Find an Offense? 26:06 Michigan State Football Preview: The Pat Fitzgerald Era Begins 30:11 Northwestern Football Preview: New Ryan Field and Chip Kelly 34:49 Washington Football Preview: Can Demond Williams Jr. Become Elite? 40:41 Minnesota Football Preview: Drake Lindsey and Anthony Smith 48:08 Purdue and Rutgers Football Previews: Reasons for Optimism? 54:27 Best Quotes from 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days

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Is Ohio State Ready to Take Back the Big Ten? | Season Preview Part 1 Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down the top contenders in the Big Ten as Part 1 of the College GameDay Podcast's conference preview series gets underway. Can Ohio State reclaim the conference crown? Will Oregon finally break through? And does Indiana have another championship run in store? We all that and more on this episode of the College GameDay Podcast!

00:00 - Welcome to the College Gameday Podcast

00:40 - Drafting the top teams in the Big Ten

10:46 - How does Indiana follow up a perfect season?

25:09 - Is Ohio State the team to beat in the Big Ten?

34:45 - Can Dante Moore lead Oregon to a CFP breakthrough?

43:50 - Can USC breakthrough under Lincoln Riley?

48:07 - Can Matt Campbell win right away at Penn State?

51:53 - Who wins the BIG Ten?

55:20 - Thanks for listening!

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UNC Puts Michael Lombardi on Paid Leave + Big Ten Media Days are Here! Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel react to North Carolina placing Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave and discuss what it means for the program moving forward. Plus, they debate whether this is a make-or-break season for Lincoln Riley at USC, whether Indiana should still be the favorite in the Big Ten, and break down the biggest storylines heading into Big Ten Media Days. All that and more on this episode of the College GameDay Podcast.

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SEC Media Days: Eli Drinkwitz on Power Four Scheduling Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Rece Davis is back from Wimbledon and joins Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel to talk about SEC Media Days. They discuss Eli Drinkwitz’s thoughts on Power Four nonconference scheduling, predict the SEC race, make early picks for Weeks 1 and 2, and weigh in on Josh Heupel’s comments about Lane Kiffin’s return to Neyland Stadium.

0:00 - Welcome back from Wimbledon, Rece

7:55 - USF’s new stadium and outdoor bar

14:51 - Best sponsor names for iconic stadiums

23:03 - Eli Drinkwitz on P4 nonconference games

40:17 - Who will win the SEC this season?

42:19 - Picking early season winners: Week 1

48:38 – Picking early season winners: Week 2

57:16 - Josh Heupel’s comments on Kiffin’s return to Neyland

1:01:11 - Looking ahead to SEC media days

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Michigan Athletics Investigation: Is Warde Manuel’s Job in Jeopardy? Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel and Sports Illustrated senior writer Pat Forde break down the Michigan Regents’ upcoming discussion on the athletic department culture investigation and what it could mean for Athletic Director Warde Manuel’s future. They also discuss Penn State and how the Nittany Lions could surpass Michigan as the nation’s largest stadium. Finally, the guys previews ACC Media Days, highlighting the biggest storylines to watch across the conference.

0:00 - Welcome

0:30 - Michigan regents to discuss athletics probe

4:56 - Michigan AD Warde Manuel’s future uncertain

10:38 - What does it take to run Michigan athletics?

14:28 - Michigan finalizing college basketball coach contract

18:38 - Penn State to become largest stadium in the U.S.?

25:37 - ACC Media Days Preview: Miami vs Duke QB feud

35:18 - ACC Media Days Preview: Is Clemson slipping?

39:28 - ACC Media Days Preview: Belichick’s roster

47:55 - ACC Media Days Preview: FSU to bounce back?

50:12 - ACC Media Days Preview: James Franklin

51:34 - ACC Media Days Preview: Clemson, FSU tensions

53:58 - Airline window seats without windows

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Big 12 Tension: Texas Tech is Outspending Everyone Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel and college football and transfer portal reporter Max Olson break down the biggest storylines coming out of Big 12 Media Days, including the tension surrounding the conference and whether Texas Tech has separated itself from the rest of the league. They discuss if the Red Raiders need the Big 12, why other programs are struggling to keep pace, and what the future holds for Deion Sanders.

0:00 - Welcome

0:30 - Big 12 media days: Behind the tension

6:44 - Is Texas Tech carrying the Big 12?

11:09 - Texas Tech’s options outside the Big 12

15:19 - Why Big 12 teams can’t catch Texas Tech

24:33 - What’s holding Colorado back?

31:32 - Is the Deion Sanders era over?

33:41 - Kenny Dillingham’s next step at ASU

39:44 - What makes ASU a sleeping giant?

41:09 - Big 12 intrigue: ASU WR and QB room

45:06 - Big 12 intrigue: Utah, BYU, Houston

48:54 - Big 12 intrigue: Oklahoma St and TCU

50:07 - The Oklahoma St QB story you need to know

51:32 - Big 12 intrigue: Cincinnati OL and DJ Lagway

52:43 - Who is the Florida banana chip bandit?

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Trinidad Chambliss Responds to Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Comments + Biggest Games of the Year Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of the College GameDay Podcast, Dan Wetzel is joined by Ryan McGee and Pat Forde to discuss Trinidad Chambliss pushing back on Lane Kiffin’s comments about recruiting in Oxford, adding yet another layer to what will be a wild scene when LSU visits Ole Miss in week 3. The guys break down why Kiffin’s exit from Ole Miss still feels so personal, and why LSU-Ole Miss will be the game everyone wants to see. Plus, they draft their must-watch games of the season and close with a look at some of college sports’ strangest national championships -- everything from meat judging, to dairy tasting, skeet shooting and quarter-scale tractor building.
00:00 Welcome to the College GameDay Podcast

01:34 Trinidad Chambliss responds to Lane Kiffin’s comments

14:37 Why the LSU - Ole Miss feud runs deep

23:18 Drafting the best games of the college football season

24:19 Miami at Notre Dame

26:25 Ohio State at Indiana

29:20 Ohio State at Texas

30:35 Georgia at Alabama

32:40 Other must-watch games this season

46:38 College sports’ strangest national championships

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