Rece Davis and ESPN senior writer Dan Wetzel dive into college football’s wild evolution—unpacking the blunders of the BCS, the mounting pressure on the playoff committee, and the lengths coaches will go to chase a title. They also break down a historic NIL lawsuit shaking up the system and expose the murky world of tampering. 0:00 - BCS blunders: Where the old system went wrong 8:52 - CFP committee: Their toughest test 13:40 - The price of the playoff: How far will coaches go? 19:42 - Historic ...
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are joined by Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, to talk about rising expectations for the Sun Devils heading into the 2025 season. Can ASU be more than a flash in the pan? How does Dillingham keep his team from reading their own headlines? And where is the ceiling for quarterback Sam Leavitt? Then, after a realignment chat, Rece and Pete take you through their list of the top 5 quarterbacks for the upcoming season. 0:00 – Welcome and introducing Kenny Dillingham 01:33 ...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 8 min
On June 6th, Judge Claudia Wilken approved a deal between the NCAA, its most powerful conferences, and lawyers representing all Division I athletes. Paving the way for schools to pay players directly for the first time. This landmark moment seems poised to change the landscape of college athletics, especially NCAA football. Rece Davis and Pete Thamel breakdown what we know right now, what the hurdles in the road could be, and discuss whether or not coaches and administrators will be able to foll...
Jun 10, 2025•58 min
Pete Thamel and ESPN senior writer Dan Wetzel break down the SEC’s push to have its grueling schedule factor more heavily into the College Football Playoff. They dive into whether the new 5+11 format truly rewards the best teams, especially with strength of schedule still a murky metric. The duo also weighs in on the uncertain future of the USC–Notre Dame rivalry, growing frustration from Ohio State fans over noon kickoffs, and Michigan’s looming NCAA meeting in the Connor Stalions case. Then, A...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel explore the potential future of the College Football Playoff format heading into 2026. They delve into the possibility of expanding to a 16-team playoff and discuss the SEC’s openness to participating in a broader format. Also on the pod, Rece Davis sits down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Dabo Swinney and Bill Belichick. Together, they reflect on the evolving landscape of NCAA football, sharing insights into their coaching philosophies, key influences, and...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 37 min
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are joined by Duke head coach Manny Diaz! From detailing his aggressive portal strategy to landing quarterback Darian Mensah, to navigating a tough schedule and fueling the storied UNC rivalry, Diaz lays out his blueprint for building a winning culture. He speaks candidly about the trait he sees in championship teams, the rising support for Duke football, and even offers advice to his former colleagues at ESPN. 0:00 - Manny Diaz on Duke's competitive advantage 3:35 - M...
May 20, 2025•59 min
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel dive into the spotlight surrounding Bill Belichick, including his one-hour sitdown with Rece and Dabo Swinney. Rece unpacks the dynamic between the two coaches, Belichick’s presence at the ACC meetings, and their deep football talk—from rugby punts to NFL minds in the college game. Pete shares his latest scouting notes on rising college football talent, while the duo also hits on Miami’s QB outlook, the viability of a new rules committee, and one wild idea: could Colle...
May 14, 2025•53 min
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel kick things off with the latest on Michigan’s Sherrone Moore, who’s expected to serve a two-game suspension. Then they zoom out to tackle a pressing question across college football: are schools really spending $35 to $40 million on their rosters? Later, Rich Rodriguez joins the show to reflect on his impact on the modern offense, his return to West Virginia, and the what-if scenario involving Terrelle Pryor. 0:00 - Two-game ban expected for Michigan coach Sherrone Moo...
May 07, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel break down the biggest moments from the NFL Draft—both on camera and behind the scenes. Then they're joined by Ohio State’s national championship-winning head coach Ryan Day, who gives a glimpse into life beyond the sidelines: from his ties to Jimmy Fallon and Adam Sandler, to watching his players go pro, to navigating recruiting as a dad alongside his son. He also weighs in on Ohio State’s looming quarterback battle and what to expect in their high-stakes opener again...
Apr 30, 2025•56 min
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel break down the lingering questions surrounding Nico Iamaleava—did he leave Tennessee too soon, prioritizing financial opportunity over development? Is UCLA truly committed to him? And can he work his way into future NFL Draft conversations? Then, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst and Insider Matt Miller joins to spotlight the player everyone’s talking about: Jalon Walker. He also weighs in on how Travis Hunter’s game will translate to the NFL and where Shedeur Sanders might land ...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Rece Davis and ESPN National Recruiting Director Tom Luginbill dive into the ongoing saga of Nico Iamaleava — from his NIL-first approach in high school to the unraveling of his relationship with Tennessee. They explore the big question: where does Nico go next — North Carolina? UCLA? Later, ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich joins to discuss who should be held accountable for creating a sustainable framework for player compensation. Wrapping up the episode, ESPN College Football Reporter Dave Wi...
Apr 16, 2025•51 min
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Bill Connelly, creator of the SP+ ranking, discuss the rise of Arch Manning as he takes the reins at Texas. Will the fan love last—or is he destined for backlash, like other rising stars? The crew also breaks down this season’s elite quarterback contenders, asking: who’s in line for the QB1 crown—Penn State’s Drew Allar or LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier? Meanwhile, Ohio State and Purdue are in flux, with sweeping roster and staff overhauls underway. With the transfer portal ...
Apr 11, 2025•54 min
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, discuss the final possession of the NCAA title game - How Florida, chaotic and unpolished throughout the tournament, leaned on depth, resilience, and opportunity to survive Houston’s relentless pressure. 0:00 - How the NCAA title game unfolded 3:55 - Todd Golden vs Kelvin Sampson 6:19 - Is Florida a new blue blood hoops school? 7:16 - Florida navigates season under Title IX probe 9:00 - All that stood between Houston and...
Apr 05, 2025•37 min
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel break down a defining week for Stanford football. The program hired Frank Reich, signaling a clear embrace of an NFL-style identity—but that move raises big questions, especially around recruiting and whether Andrew Luck, now Stanford’s general manager, can convince Reich to stay beyond one season. If he can’t, then who steps in next? Out in Colorado, Deion Sanders grabs headlines with a $54 million extension. The next big question: Can he keep the Buffaloes competitiv...
Apr 02, 2025•48 min
Sam Ravech, host of Countdown to GameDay on the ESPN YouTube channel, and Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, discuss the powerhouse teams hungry to take on Duke—or at least eager to see the Blue Devils fall—as the NCAA Tournament title game approaches. Off the court, more drama unfolds as the transfer portal swells with players, raising the question: should the portal window be pushed until after the tournament ends? Meanwhile, one coach in particular has drawn the ire of Maryland f...
Mar 31, 2025•52 min
Rece Davis and ESPN Radio's Ian Fitzsimmons discuss, is a Colorado vs Syracuse spring game a genius move or not? They think it's worthwhile. They're also keenly aware of the conversations surrounding players being poached for the spring transfer portal. To this, Rece says maybe it's time for programs to put their players under contract. This leads to a discussion on the transfer portal, and if it's needed at all and if players should have the same freedom to move as coaches do. Is it even possib...
Mar 26, 2025•51 min
Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, discuss how the NCAA Tournament is transforming—and if this is really for the better. The SEC's 14 teams in the field edged out mid-major teams which led to chalk in the first and second round. Is this what kills the domino of upsets and Cinderella runs everyone is so used to? Also, what happens to the Big East? Will their teams secure spots among the power conferences? As of right, BYU is turning heads and grabbing headlines. Do th...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr
Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, & Bill Connelly, ESPN writer, discuss the traps in the Midwest Region! Houston may be a top seed, but a showdown with Gonzaga looms large. Also in the region are McNeese and High Point, who are eyeing Cinderella runs that could shake up the bracket. Kentucky, the No. 3 seed, has stumbled into March looking anything but steady, and Tennessee’s coach is looking to rewrite history for himself. The guys end their tournament bracket pre...
Mar 17, 2025•27 min
Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, & Bill Connelly, ESPN writer, discuss the battlefield that is the West Region. UConn’s Dan Hurley is eyeing a massive upset over No. 1 seed Florida, while Oklahoma’s NBA-bound star is ready to step into the spotlight. Colorado State sees a clear path forward, but may stumble to Texas Tech or St. John's. With so many top contenders colliding, which team will make emerge and advance to the Final Four? 0:00 - What makes the West Regio...
Mar 17, 2025•35 min
Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, & Bill Connelly, ESPN writer, discuss the East Region - the NCAA Tournament's biggest offensive powerhouse. BYU is ready to light up anyone in their path, but VCU lurks as a defensive force capable of shutting down the best. The guys also dive into Arizona’s star player that might be able to carry the team and if Duke can survive without Cooper Flagg. 0:00 - East region: The tourney's offensive powerhouse 2:02 - BYU: The elite scor...
Mar 17, 2025•36 min
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 th...
Mar 17, 2025•37 min
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 ...
Mar 12, 2025•54 min
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 S...
Mar 05, 2025•57 min
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 mone...
Feb 26, 2025•53 min
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 bre...
Feb 18, 2025•54 min
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 in...
Feb 12, 2025•54 min
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...
Jan 22, 2025•58 min
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 ...
Jan 21, 2025•23 min
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...
Jan 14, 2025•49 min
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 ...
Jan 11, 2025•28 min
