ESPN College GameDay

Latest Episodes:

BROKEN Eligibility Rules + Colleges To Start Mining NFL Waiver Wires? Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down the rapidly changing football landscape, starting with eligibility rules. They ask, who actually has the power to fix them? They dig into whether players should be allowed to move between the pros and college, break down potential playoff tweaks and close with some vintage Lou Holtz stories.

0:00 – Welcome

0:30 - Vols QB files lawsuit for extra season

3:22 - What should college eligibility rules be?

6:30 - Is it okay for players to move between the pros and college?

8:54 - Why not go pro first, then play in college?

13:53 - The disconnect between Congress and college

18:53 - Should NCAA be leading reform as opposed to Congress?

23:37 - NFL & NBA Draft to get undermined?

38:57 - August Repercussions: Colleges to start mining NFL waiver wires?

42:49 - What’s changing in the 12-team playoff?

52:05 - Vintage Lou Holtz stories

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Dabo Swinney Puts Ole Miss’ Pete Golding On Blast For Tampering?! Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel break down Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s tampering accusations and why his public callout is different from others. They also dive into the wave of lawsuits sweeping across college sports, Charles Bediako’s jump from the G League to the SEC, whether declaring for the NBA Draft should end a college career, and the latest on Darian Mensah amid his lawsuit with Duke. What could happen with that and where will he ultimately land?

0:00 – Welcome

0:30 - The latest on who’s suing who

2:17 - UNLV once signed a player from juvenile detention?

11:00 - Big joke there are unenforceable deals

17:22 - What’s the Dabo vs. Ole Miss tampering fight?

21:14 - Why Dabo calling out tampering is a big deal

36:30 - Indiana after the title run

42:30 - Charles Bediako goes from G League to hooping in the SEC

47:06 - Should declaring for the NBA Draft end a college career?

55:02 - Why lawmakers shouldn’t fix everything, just a few rules

59:16 - Darian Mensah to go to Miami amid his Duke lawsuit?

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Indiana STUNS Miami with Game-Sealing Interception To Win National Title Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, & Dan Wetzel break down the biggest moments from the National Championship, including the underthrown pass that turned into the game-sealing interception, the hits that left both QBs taking shots all night, and what Indiana’s rise means for the future of the sport.

0:00 - Welcome

0:36 - Top National Championship moments

3:23 - Curt Cignetti’s huge 4th-and-5 call from the red zone

8:43 - Details on Miami’s underthrown pass that led to a game-sealing interception

10:48 - How the QBs were rocked in a very physical game

14:06 - Indiana’s rebuild, the closest comps are…

19:04 - Indiana’s National Championship win is proof that depth no longer matters?

25:13 - Can Indiana keep it rolling into next season and beyond?

27:05 - Indiana to take the No. 1 spot in the next preseason poll?

34:12 - Miami’s outlooking for next season

37:55 - In the postseason, is the north taking over?

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Cignetti & Cristobal Sit-down Interview: National Championship Preview Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Rece Davis sits down with Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and Miami head coach Mario Cristobal ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship to talk about how each quarterback evolved this season, the adversity that shaped their teams, and what they’re expecting when they take the field Monday night.

0:00 - Welcome

0:30 - Coaches get honest about their demeanors

4:03 - How to achieve program alignment

8:12 - How Carson Beck won the locker room

9:14 - What’s the key to winning the game?

10:05 - The season-turning moment for each coach

14:35 - The one question you’d ask the other coach is…

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CFP Title Game Preview: Miami’s SURGE Meets Indiana’s Statement Run Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and former ACC coach Dave Clawson break down Miami’s resurgence this season and the two players to watch for in the National Title game. Then, they shift to Indiana’s rise under Coach Curt Cignetti and the blueprint he used to turn the program into a title contender. To close, they make their National Title picks, peek at what the next wave of College Football Playoff expansion could look like, and hit some recent portal news, specifically how Texas and Alabama have been faring.

0:00 - Welcome

0:40 - Miami: Is ‘The U’ officially back?

3:28 - The play that turned Miami’s entire season around

7:43 - Miami’s two poison players are…

12:27 - How Curt Cignetti established Indiana’s culture

15:25 - How Curt Cignetti made Indiana a title-contending team

21:01 - The issue with using refs from different conferences in the CFP

24:19 - Which fanbase takes over the title game?

29:03 - Which team wins the National Championship?

32:41 - CFP expansion: 16 vs 24 teams

40:12 - As the CFP gets larger, rosters get smaller?

50:05 - Portal news: Texas has loaded up

54:45 - Portal news: Alabama can’t keep up due to a money gap

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CFP Semifinals: Indiana OBLITERATES Oregon + Miami Survives Ole Miss Jan 10, 2026

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down Indiana’s statement win over Oregon, a complete domination that sent Hoosier Nation into a frenzy. But on the other side, the loss raises bigger questions about why Oregon can’t break through when the national title game is in reach. Then, Pete takes you behind the scenes after the final whistle. Plus, the guys dive into the Miami vs Ole Miss game and how Miami survived but failed to land the knockout blow when they had the chance.

0:00 - Welcome

0:44 - Indiana obliterates Oregon

10:05 - Indiana fans are living the dream

16:28 - Miami failed to close out Ole Miss early

25:49 - Curt Cignetti has mastered modern college football

30:19 - Oregon can’t seem to break through in the playoff

34:35 - Hoosier nation will make it to the national title game

38:00 - Behind the scenes moments after Indiana vs Oregon game

43:27 - What happened with Dante Moore?

46:59 - Oregon and Ole Miss quarterback spots still open

52:52 - Will Dante Moore and Trinidad Chambliss go to the NFL or stay in college?

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Indiana & Texas Tech Winning The Portal? + CFP Semifinals Preview Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down how academics are complicated the college football transfer portal. They dig into Indiana’s approach to the portal, how Texas Tech has become increasingly competitive against SEC programs, and whether Michigan and Penn State can translate major coaching investments into landing top players. The guys then turn their attention to the College Football Playoff semifinals, highlighting the most intriguing matchup and picking who they think will advance to the national title game.

0:00 – Welcome

5:26 - Academics vs The college transfer portal

12:30 - Indiana’s approach to the transfer portal

20:48 - Texas Tech vs SEC in the transfer portal

29:21 - Michigan & Penn St got coaches, can they get players?

34:20 - How the transfer portal changed everything

45:48 - BTS of Pat Coogan receiving Rose Bowl MVP award

53:20 - The CFP semifinals can’t miss game is…

1:07:08 - The CFP semifinals, who advances?

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CFP Quarterfinals Deliver + Georgia FALLS To Ole Miss Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel & Max Olson break down a chaotic College Football Playoff quarterfinals, starting with Ole Miss taking down Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The conversation then turns to Indiana’s physical dominance against Alabama, then to Oregon’s defense that left Texas Tech unable to move the ball. Plus, the guys get into Miami’s win over Ohio State which they say comes down to winning the game on the ground. To close, with the transfer portal officially open, they get into the bidding wars that are underway.

0:00 - Welcome

0:30 - Ole Miss downs Georgia in Sugar Bowl

4:36 - How Georgia got the ball at the end

9:55 - Pete Golding gets credit for keeping Ole Miss alive

14:53 - Indiana’s physicality buries Alabama

22:20 - Alabama has no excuse for a 35-point loss

27:46 - Texas Tech failed to move the ball against Oregon

30:42 - Ole Miss is the SEC’s last hope in the CFP

35:00 - Transfer portal has opened & the bidding wars have begun

38:47 - Miami outrushes Ohio St to secure the win

48:41 - Transfer portal clock is on, teams have 2 weeks to shape rosters

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CFP Quarterfinals Are Here: Who Breaks Through? Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel & Dan Wetzel break down the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, starting with Miami vs Ohio State, the trust factor around Carson Beck and whether Ryan Day taking over playcalling changes the matchup. They then preview Oregon vs Texas Tech, asking if Texas Tech’s historic run is ready for its toughest test yet, before turning to Alabama vs Indiana and whether QB Fernando Mendoza can live up to his Heisman expectations. Plus, they debate if Ole Miss can land the blow against Georgia, pick who they think will punch through to the next round, and close with Michigan’s coaching upgrade in Kyle Whittingham.

0:00 - Welcome

0:30 - Miami vs Ohio St: The most draft-loaded matchup?

9:31 - Can Miami trust QB Carson Beck in a big game?

14:06 - Does it matter that Ryan Day is taking over playcalling for Ohio St?

19:02 - What to watch for in the red zone

22:38 - Texas Tech faces its biggest test against Oregon

38:29 - Should Baylor get to sign an ex-NBA pick?

50:58 - Alabama vs Indiana: Old guard vs new blood

57:35 - Can Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza deliver on his Heisman expectations?

1:02:18 - Lane Kiffin takes grocery store basket, was this the right move?

1:05:38 - Can Ole Miss land the blow against Georgia?

1:09:44 - Is this the best CFP yet?

1:11:02 - Who survives the CFP quarterfinals?

1:18:41 - Michigan upgrades with new head coach Kyle Whittingham

1:21:42 - Concerns about Kyle Whittingham’s player development abilities?

1:23:30 - Why did Kyle Whittingham leave Utah?

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CFP First Round Takeaways: What We Learned About Alabama, Miami & More Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down the defining moments from the first round of the College Football Playoff. They examine how Alabama capitalized on Oklahoma’s mistakes, question Texas A&M’s late-game decisions against Miami, and assess why the Group of Five teams came up short. Then they wrap the conversation with the latest on Michigan’s pursuit of Kalen DeBoer.

0:00 - Welcome

1:00 - Lasers, flyovers, 50 Cent & a purple sunset

2:15 - Why can’t there be more CFP home games?

4:30 - How the Rose Bowl sunset affects the kickoff time

10:30 - A possible fix to making bowl games matter

12:48 - Guess the price of a CFP hotel stay

22:27 - Alabama cashes in, Oklahoma misses chances

30:10 - What’s with Ryan Williams’ production drop-off?

33:31 - Should Texas A&M have run Marcel Reed at the end?

38:17 - Miami secures a program-defining win

45:38 - Why the Group of Five teams fell short

56:43 - Update: Michigan’s pursuit of Kalen DeBoer