ESPN College GameDay - podcast cover

ESPN College GameDay

ESPN, Rece Davis, Pete Thamelwww.espn.com
The moment ESPN College GameDay’s lights turn off, Rece Davis and Pete Thamel lock in on the games. They’re glued to the TV on travel days to discuss the latest news on Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays with friends like Steve Coughin, Ryan McGee, Heather Dinich. Rece and Pete chat every week about momentum shifting plays, rumors permeating across the college football landscape, missteps in the rankings and so much more!
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Episodes

Who's Better: Ohio State or Oregon? + The Red River Rivalry's Wide Talent Variance

Kevin Clark, host of the "This is Football" podcast, and Spencer Hall, host of "Big Dumb Football" on ESPN's College Football YouTube channel, fill in for Rece Davis and Pete Thamel. They look at Week 7 weekend matchups and give their thoughts on what they think is important to know going into those games. Tune in to find out who they think is slightly better between Ohio State and Oregon, whether or not LSU's Brian Kelly is going to get fired, the wide talent variance in the Red River Rivalry, ...

Oct 10, 202440 min

AP Poll PUNISHES Week 6 Losses + Is Ohio State vs. Oregon a Preview of the Big Ten Championship?

Kevin Clark, host of the "This is Football" podcast, and senior writers Heather Dinich and Jake Trotter fill in for Rece Davis and Pete Thamel. They discuss the big rankings shifts in the AP Poll that happened as a result of all the Week 6 upsets, whether or not two ACC teams will end up with playoff bids over Notre Dame, and if any other Group of Five team can make it into the rankings over Boise State. Also, ahead of Ohio State vs. Oregon, they get into the longtime bond between Ohio State's R...

Oct 09, 202438 min

How Vanderbilt Took Down No. 1 Alabama + How Losses Likely Shape The CFP

Pete Thamel and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network dive into all the weekend chaos! Vanderbilt taking down No. 1 Alabama was by far the biggest stunner. The guys get into how it all happened and what's to come for Tennessee who faces Vanderbilt at the end of the season. They also give a nod to all the sprightly digital jabs traded by fans and teams as a result of these games, and take a look at how this could shape the College Football Playoff. 0:00 - Welcome 1:00 - Is Everyo...

Oct 07, 202448 min

Will Miami Get Clipped By Cal? The Old Auburn vs. Georgia Rivalry + More Week 6 Game Previews!

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Stanford Steve, who all appear each week on the “College GameDay” broadcast show, look at Week 6 weekend matchups, give their thoughts on what they think is important to know going into those games, and then pick the teams they think will come out on top. Tune in to find out whether or not Miami quarterback Cam Ward is a threat to Cal, what's wrong with Auburn, the revamped profiles of the national championship teams Michigan and Washington facing each other for a rem...

Oct 03, 202428 min

What The AP Poll Tea Leaves Say About The CFP + Who's The Top Quarterback in College Football?

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the SEC and Big Ten middle-of-the-field teams that are currently on the cusp of making the College Football Playoff, what stands out the Big 12's CFP contenders so far, which unranked Big 12 teams might slide their way into a playoff spot, and whether it makes sense for Clemson, one of the few ranked ACC teams, to be all the down at No. 15. They also get into what NFL scouts have said about who they think is the top quarterback in college football! 0:00 - Welco...

Oct 03, 202442 min

Georgia's Successes and Missteps Against Alabama + Kentucky's Big Game-Winning Call

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, discuss heart-of-a-champion Georgia and their climb from being down 28 points against Alabama - what they did right and what they could have done better to pull out a win. They also give credit to Alabama freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams for his spectacular end-of-game touchdown play. Then they get into two big weekend calls: Kentucky's play call that put them over the top and the refs' decision to overturn V...

Sep 30, 202451 min

Who’s Better At Fourth Downs, Georgia or Alabama? + Is Ole Miss READY for SEC play this season?

College GameDay's Rece Davis and Stanford Steve look at Week 5 weekend matchups, give their thoughts on what they think is important to know going into those games, and then pick the teams they think will come out on top. Tune in to find out, in Kentucky vs. Ole Miss, whether or not Ole Miss is ready for SEC games. They also get into why Louisville vs. Notre Dame is a playoff elimination game for the Fighting Irish. Finally, they talk about who can be more productive on fourth downs, Georgia or ...

Sep 27, 202453 min

Alabama's Advantage Over Georgia + Who's The Best Overall Team Right Now?

Rece Davis and Heather Dinich, ESPN senior writer, discuss the root of Alabama and Georgia's rivalry, the strategy Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is zeroing in on for Saturday, and why Georgia will keep the game close. They also get into how the outcome of this matchup will figure into each team's playoff contention chances. 0:00 - Georgia vs. Alabama: Rivals born from excellence 0:52 - George’s losses to Alabama 2:04 - Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer’s Saturday strategy 3:21 - Alabama’s advantage: Execu...

Sep 25, 202428 min

How did Colorado PUT UP A WIN over Baylor? + What the Tennessee Vols did for Coach Josh Heupel

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, give their flowers to Colorado for their Hail Mary touchdown that tied the game and led to the Buffaloes' overtime win against Baylor. The guys also get into Oklahoma Brent Venables' candidness about switching out quarterbacks in the game against Tennessee. Then they get into their shock at North Carolina's program-shaking loss to James Madison, 50 -70. 0:00 - Welcome 1:00 - Great Saturday Theater: Colorado Vs B...

Sep 23, 202449 min

USC is Getting Their Big Ten MOMENT Against Michigan + How Will Texas' Steve Sarkisian Dial Up QB Arch Manning?

College GameDay's Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Stanford Steve look at Week 4 weekend matchups, give their thoughts on what they think is important to know going into those games, and then pick the teams they think will come out on top. Tune in to find out what might go down in USC vs. Michigan, whether or not Utah's QB Cam Rising will start against Oklahoma State, and why they think Miami vs. South Florida will be a high-octane high scoring game! 3:49 - Illinois @ Nebraska 6:42 - Florida @ Missis...

Sep 20, 202445 min

Why is there TENSION between Tennessee Coach Josh Heupel and Oklahoma? + UNLV Coach Barry Odom Joins The Pod!

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel preview Rece's sit-down interview with Tennessee coach Josh Heupel and go over his ties, as a Heisman Trophy runner-up and quarterbacks coach, to Oklahoma. They also get into Florida State and Clemson possibly dropping their lawsuits with the ACC and potentially being let out of the grant of rights. Then UNLV coach Barry Odom joins to talk about his strong 3-0 start to the season, the Mountain West being shaken up by the Pac-12, and his strategy for making the College ...

Sep 18, 202435 min

What Is A South Carolina Home Game Like? + Billy Napier's Uncertain Future With Florida

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, discuss South Carolina's "2001-A Space Odyssey" iconic field entrance and how the Gamecock's game against LSU could have been different if quarterback LaNorris Sellers wasn't injured. They also get into Billy Napier's 1-2 record this season and why he could be out as Florida's head coach. Before ending the show, they touch on Texas quarterback Arch Manning's dominant performance, Georgia's surprising narrow win, ...

Sep 16, 202452 min

Who Brings More Heat To The Table, West Virginia vs. Pitt or Colorado vs. Colorado State? + More Week 3 Rivalry Game Previews!

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Stanford Steve, who all appear each week on the “College GameDay” broadcast show, look at Week 3 weekend matchups, give their thoughts on what they think is important to know going into those games, and then pick the teams they think will come out on top. Tune in to find out all about this week’s rivalries, specifically whether Washington’s team – who made it to the College Football Playoff championship game last season – can hold their own against Washington State, w...

Sep 13, 202447 min

Can LSU Establish Game-Wrecking Control Over South Carolina? + Week 3 Rivalry Games

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and the father of SP+ analytics, Bill Connelly, discuss the next site the College GameDay crew is headed to - Columbia, South Carolina for the LSU vs. South Carolina game this Saturday. While the LSU offensive line has received many accolades, they could face communication issues from the loyal South Carolina fanbase who will inevitably turn out to support their Gamecocks. The crew also gets into the big rivalry games this weekend, Oregon vs. Oregon State and Washington v...

Sep 11, 202442 min

Is Notre Dame Dead In The Water When It Comes To Making The Playoff?

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, get into the loss the Notre Dame fighting Irish took against Northern Illinois Huskies, what the Huskies did to take the win, and how this affects both teams' playoff chances. They also get into overreaction that shouldn't have happened to Michigan after they lost to Texas. Lastly, they end the pod with a look at the Colorado vs. Nebraska game, how it highlighted two teams in college football that took two comple...

Sep 09, 202450 min

Why the PRESSURE is on Nebraska and NOT Colorado + Week 2 Picks 👀

Pete Thamel, Harry Lyles Jr., college sports sideline reporter Harry Lyles Jr., and Stanford Steve, ESPN sports betting analyst, look at Week 2 weekend matchups, give their thoughts on what they think is important to know going into those games, and then pick the teams they think will come out on top. Tune in to find out what Stanford Steve hasn't seen from Michigan in the last three years, who on Iowa is probably going to be an NFL player, the x factor in the Colorado vs. Nebraska game, and whi...

Sep 06, 202425 min

The Fair and Unfair Criticisms Of Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney's Transfer Portal Usage + Texas vs. Michigan Preview

Pete Thamel and college sports sideline reporter Harry Lyles Jr. discuss Clemson's Dabo Swinney's earned spot at the top of college football, why he can't be forced to change when it comes to using the transfer portal, and what on-the-field adjustments he'll make following Clemson's loss to Georgia. They also get into what to look for in Saturday's Texas vs. Michigan potentially iconic game, why Missouri has hope in this 12-team college football playoff era, and why Colorado State is better than...

Sep 04, 202444 min

Boston College, Florida, USC and Vanderbilt, was there enough Week 1 upsets to go around?

Rece Davis and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, discuss Florida State's second start of season stumble against Boston College and the pressure the Seminoles have been under since they were left out of the College Football Playoff last December. They also get into the crisis Florida is in after their loss to Miami, USC Kyron Hudson's incredible one-handed catch between two defenders, and LSU coach Brian Kelly's subsequent outburst in the postgame press conference. Timecodes...

Sep 03, 202457 min

How CLOSE will the Notre Dame and Texas A&M game be? + Week 1 Picks 👀

Pete Thamel, Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, and Stanford Steve, ESPN sports betting analyst, look at Week 1 weekend matchups, give their thoughts on what they think is important to know going into those games, and then pick the teams they think will come out on top. Tune in to find out what is wrong with Georgia's schedule, whether Western Kentucky's transfers can take on Alabama, how Michigan might open the season, and if there's a reason to root for USC. 1:11 - Georgia...

Aug 30, 202446 min

What Are The Takeaways From The Connor Stalions Michigan Sign-Stealing Documentary?

Pete Thamel and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, discuss the documentary that everyone in college football is talking about, "Untold: Sign Stealer." They get into the validity of the film, the sentiment coming from former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, the disrespect of the doc dropping just before Michigan's opening game and the impact of this in the years to come. On top of this - for the GameDay show loyalists - they get into the show's next on-site location, College...

Aug 28, 202440 min

How Did Georgia Tech Overcome Florida State in Week 0?

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the pivotal eight minutes that defined the Georgia Tech-Florida State game, the run defense Georgia Tech built in the offseason and the challenges they have ahead. They also warn Florida State fans to not ring the alarm bells yet, embrace the growing pains and to have some trust in their quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Timecodes 0:00 - The One Thing You Can Count On…Run. The. Ball. 1:35 - Georgia Tech Stuns Florida St In Season Opener 4:21 - What Was The Turning Poi...

Aug 26, 202442 min

Can Georgia Tech Get An Early Win Against Florida State on Saturday?

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel bring you the podcast from Dublin, Ireland where Florida State will play Georgia Tech on Saturday. They discuss the reasons why Georgia Tech could make this a close game and why Florida State's offensive coordinator Alex Atkins will be absent for the game. They also shout-out ESPN's Harry Lyles who put together a story on Georgia Tech punter David Shanahan who will have a chance to play in his home country this weekend. Finally, they round out the pod on the controvers...

Aug 22, 202445 min

What Is There To Expect From College Football In Week Zero? Is More Realignment Coming? Who is Ohio State's Starting Quarterback?

Pete Thamel and ESPN Senior Writer Ryan McGee pore over the changes in college football this season and then wind in their expectations of changes to come in the near future. Then they bring forth their latest notes on this week's Saturday slate of games, just before ruminating on Ohio State's latest announcement that the Buckeyes' starting quarterback will be Will Howard. Timecodes: 0:00 - The Most Anticipated Season Of All-Time Is Here! 04:30 - Stay Ready, There Are Even More CFB Changes To Co...

Aug 19, 202450 min

Which 12 Teams Will Make The College Football Playoff?!

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel give their in-depth analysis on which five teams will take the conference champion playoff spots and the seven teams that will fall into place for the other at-large spots. Follow along as they give you a primer on why these teams stand out from all the rest - whether it be their lead quarterback, the amount of returning starters they have, the transfers they've gained to bolster different parts of their roster, the schedule they face, and more! Timecodes: 0:00 - Teams...

Aug 14, 20241 hr 12 min

Q&A on the NCAA's Notice of Allegations Draft Against Michigan; College Football Season Preview: CFP Fringe Teams

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel catch you up on everything from Pitbull buying the naming rights to Florida International's football stadium, to the latest on Michigan's alleged off-campus scouting operations, to how they think Connor Stalions will be portrayed in the Netflix documentary, to the teams they think are on the fringe of making the CFP. Timecodes: 0:00 - Welcome 2:01 - Teams On The Fringe of Making The CFP 3:19 - Pete Lays Eyes On The NCAA’s Notice Of Allegations Draft 10:51 - Michigan No...

Aug 07, 20241 hr 8 min

Christmas in July; College Football Season Preview; Lightning Bolt CFP Contention Teams

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss what caught their eyes from SEC Media Days, what to know about Texas and Oklahoma ahead of this season, why they think Ole Miss might make the playoffs and what other teams that are piquing their interest as they pour through their pre-season research. And now that College Football 25 is out, Rece shares a behind-the-scenes story as to why he was told not to record too many memorable lines for the game. Timecodes 0:00 - Welcome 0:25 - Preview: Potential CFP Con...

Jul 31, 20241 hr 2 min

UCLA DeShaun Foster Gets Stage Fright + Explore The New Big Ten Playing Field

Rece Davis and Ian Fitzsimmons from ESPN Radio open the show honing in on Florida State, their playoff snub last season, and why more media coverage wouldn't have helped the Seminoles' case for a CFP. To put it simply - If the ACC wants more representation in the CFP they need to build more elite teams. Then they turn their attention to UCLA's DeShaun Foster, who seemed to have a bit of stage fright during his Big Ten media day opening statement, before moving onto their thoughts on the rest of ...

Jul 25, 202458 min

Where Texas and Oklahoma Stand in the SEC; The Unanticipated Storyline from Arkansas; Rece's Feedback From Recording for CFB 25

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss what caught their eyes from SEC Media Days, what to know about Texas and Oklahoma ahead of this season, why they think Ole Miss might make the playoffs and what other teams that are piquing their interest as they pour through their pre-season research. And now that College Football 25 is out, Rece shares a behind-the-scenes story as to why he was told not to record too many memorable lines for the game. Timecodes: 0:00 Welcome 3:04 - Quick Preview Texas and Okl...

Jul 19, 202447 min

Big 12 Media Days Give a Glimpse of Next Season; Deion Sanders' Plan To Win; Mike Gundy's Distracting Comments

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the eyebrow-raising moments at the Big 12 Football Media Days including Pete's interview with Colorado's Deion Sanders, on top of Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy's comments on Ollie Gordon's II's arrest for suspicion of DUI. Then they give the lay of the land for the Big 12 going into next season, specifically their thoughts on conference leaders in Utah, Kansas and Arizona, as well as how Iowa State will do if they can get over the mental hurdle of losing one-scor...

Jul 12, 202454 min

What You Might’ve Missed From GameDay’s Recent Coach Interviews!

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with coaches to pick their minds on what it takes to build program, what players they have their eyes on and what philosophies they’ve come to impart to the people around them. Tune in to listen to Fran Brown from Syracuse, Spencer Danielson from Boise State, Eliah Drinkwitz from University of Missouri, Jedd Fisch from the University of Washington, Jeff Lebby from Mississippi State University, Matt Rhule from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Jonathan Smith f...

Jul 03, 20248 min
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