

ESPN College GameDay
ESPN, Rece Davis, Pete Thamel
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 12, 2025 • 1h 13min
Week 12 Picks: Latest CFP Rankings Reaction; Seismic Week in the SEC; GameDay Heads to Pitt
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel react to the season batch of College Football Playoff rankings. Plus, they discuss where the ACC stands in the CFP race, if USC is on the ascent and the latest on the drama at LSU with Brian Kelly’s firing. Then, the guys get into the Six Pack of Picks, and talk about Maryland and UConn.
0:00 Welcome to the College GameDay Podcast!
0:30 College Football Playoff rankings reaction
13:14 Where does the ACC stand?
22:32 What about USC?
28:54 The latest on LSU and Brian Kelly
36:35 Rece & Pete's Six Pack of Picks
40:18 Notre Dame at Pitt
44:22 Iowa at USC
46:00 Oklahoma at Alabama
50:39 Texas at Georgia
53:56 USF at Navy
57:43 Maryland’s rough season
1:02:13 UConn’s stellar season
1:04:50 Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 10, 2025 • 1h 8min
CFP Battle For Bids: ACC Mess, Big 12 Rising, Big Ten Flexing
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel debate whether a Heisman moment is essential to winning the Heisman …and if Fernando Mendoza has delivered on this. Then, they break down the current CFP picture specifically the chaos in the ACC, the Big 12 potentially sneaking a team in at the end, and which Big Ten powerhouse team will emerge on top.
0:00 - Welcome
1:41 - Fernando Menoza, new Heisman leader?
8:06 - The top team in the Big Ten is…
19:14 - ACC wheel of destiny: Who get’s a CFP bid?
32:18 - Big 12 to get the last at-large CFP bid?
39:05 - CFP: Some of the good, the bad, and the new
52:05 - The best player you might not know
54:19 - Which coach gets fired next?
57:26 - Proposals and ‘I do’ on and off the field Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 6, 2025 • 1h 13min
EXCLUSIVE: Pat Fitzgerald Joins Rece & Pete | Playoff Rankings + Six Pack of Picks
Pat Fitzgerald joins Rece Davis and Pete Thamel for his first public interview since his 2023 departure from Northwestern. The College Football Hall of Famer opens up about what he’s been up to, reflects on his time in Evanston, and discusses what the future might hold now that he’s back on the coaching market. Plus, Rece and Pete react to the first College Football Playoff rankings and wrap things up with their Six Pack of Picks.
00:00 - Welcome to the College GameDay Podcast!
00:30 - CFP rankings reactions
14:13 - Pat Fitzgerald joins the show!
17:33 - Pat feels "vindicated" after wrongful termination
24:13 - Pat on his coaching future
26:26 - Pat on handling the new era of college football
40:04 - Pat's ideal coaching fit
53:46 - Rece & Pete's six pack of picks
1:09:13 - Thanks for listening ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 3, 2025 • 1h 6min
CFP Rankings Preview: Who's No. 1? + Kenny Chesney Joins The Pod!
Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel discuss the upcoming College Football Playoff rankings. They make picks on who they think will take the No. 1 spot and how many bids each conference gets. They also break down Auburn's coaching search and whether Clemson can recover from their tailspin season. Then, country superstar Kenny Chesney joins to talk about his new book drop, Heart Life Music, Tennessee Vols memories, his songwriting process and more!
0:00 - Welcome!
0:32 - CFP rankings: Who's taking No. 1 spot?
6:41 - CFP rankings: What to watch for
10:35 - How many CFP bids does each conference get?
18:20 - CFP rankings: Where does Michigan land?
21:37 - Auburn: Who replaces Hugh Freeze?
33:23 - CFP race: Miami is walking a fine line
37:54 - Can Clemson pull out of a tailspin?
46:29 - Kenny Chesney joins the pod!
47:27 - Kenny Chesney's Tennessee Vols memories
50:15 - Kenny Chesney shares his best lyric
53:41 - Inside Kenny Chesney's writing process
56:53 - Kenny Chesney's drink of choice
59:26 - Kenny Chesney's fave moment as GameDay guest picker! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 29, 2025 • 1h 5min
Week 10 Picks: Risky Coaching Hires & Halloween Candy Debate 🎃
It’s a spooky Week 10 on the College GameDay Podcast! Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss risky coaching hires, early playoff rankings, their Halloween candy favorites and their Week 10 picks.
00:00 - Welcome to the College GameDay Podcast
04:48 - CFB scheduling issues?
11:15 - The latest on the coaching carousel
25:04 - Bill Belichick's call to go for 2
28:08 - Expectations from 1st CFP Rankings
36:02 - Six pack of picks
55:48 - Let's talk Halloween
58:11 - What's your favorite Halloween candy?
01:01:13 - Thanks for watching the College GameDay Podcast!
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Oct 27, 2025 • 1h 2min
How LSU's Firing Of Brian Kelly Unfolded
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel dive into LSU's move to fire Brian Kelly and what comes next for the Tigers. They kick around how much the Governor might actually matter in the coaching search and whether his voice will carry any weight. And with Lane Kiffin's name in the mix while Ole Miss is still chasing a playoff spot, the big question is if LSU can really wait until his season's over to make a move.
0:00 - Inside The Day LSU Fired Brian Kelly
5:19 - Surprised Brian Kelly Is Out After Texas A&M Loss?
6:39 - Brian Kelly Made LSU A Contender, Don't Forget!
14:09 - Who's Really Picking LSU's Next Coach?
21:14 - LSU To Make A Run At Lane Kiffin?
30:37 - Can LSU Wait Out CFP To Hire A Coach?
35:59 - Rank The Top Coaching Jobs: Florida, LSU, Penn State
48:21 - Auburn, Florida St, Wisconsin To Shake Up Coaching Market?
51:37 - What To Expect: GameDay at Cincinnati vs Utah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 23, 2025 • 57min
Week 9 Preview: Missouri vs Vanderbilt & LSU vs Texas A&M | College GameDay Podcast
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel break down a massive Week 9 slate!
Can Missouri pull off a top-10 upset on the road against Vanderbilt?
Will LSU save its season against Texas A&M?
And can Houston keep rolling against Arizona State?
We preview all the biggest matchups and storylines from across the country in this episode of the College GameDay Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 20, 2025 • 1h 4min
Florida Fires Napier… Lane Kiffin To Take Over?
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel break down Billy Napier’s firing at Florida and what it means for the Gators’ future. Who’s next in line for the job... Could it be Lane Kiffin? The guys also dive into the mounting pressure at Florida State and Auburn, where frustration is beginning to boil over.
:00 Welcome to the Podcast
:41 Billy Napier out as Florida Gators Coach
5:46 Coaching Carrousel of College Football
7:40 Which coaches have their job secured?
14:05 What Florida really needs to do
21:58 Is Lane Kiffin headed to Florida?
37:04 Which coach could be in the hot seat next ?
48:42 Why this playoff system works right now
52:00 Impressions of James Franklin on GameDay
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Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 17min
Week 8 Preview: Redemption in Athens? Notre Dame’s Playoff Hopes on the Line vs. USC
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are back to preview a massive Week 8 in college football. Can Georgia get redemption between the hedges against No. 5 Ole Miss? Will Notre Dame’s playoff hopes survive a must-win clash with USC? The guys make their Week 8 picks and break down all the big storylines. Plus, Ivan Maisel joins the show to discuss his new book and reflect on the legendary career of Frank Leahy. All that and more on this episode of the College GameDay Podcast.
00:00 - Welcome to the College GameDay Podcast
00:54 - Lane Kiffin's jab at Kirby Smart
03:16 - A tough week for the refs
05:54 - Ole Miss vs Georgia preview
20:29 - Ivan Maisel joins the show
48:39 - Week 8 Six Pack of Picks
01:08:02 - Deep cut game of the week
01:13:53 - Thanks for watching / listening to the College Gameday Podcast
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Oct 13, 2025 • 1h 3min
James Franklin Out at Penn State: A Firing Unlike Any Other
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel dive into the fallout from James Franklin's firing at Penn State. They unpack how his free fall unfolded, the moment Penn State realized he couldn't deliver a national championship, and why coaching contracts may never look the same again. Then they evaluate whether Indiana's Curt Cignetti or Nebraska's Matt Rhule should even consider the Penn State job before delivering their predictions on who could take the reins in Happy Valley.
0:00 - Welcome
0:30 - James Franklin firing is unlike any other
2:55 - Penn St realization: Franklin won't win it
4:55 - James Franklin free fall won't be the last
7:53 - Why coach contracts will shift
11:56 - Penn St players came up short, lacked passion & fire
14:56 - The reality is coaches don't build programs
19:36 - In today's game, anyone can win
29:08 - The Oregon loss' devastating effect on Penn St's season
36:09 - Should Curt Cignetti consider the Penn St job?
42:13 - Why Cignetti won't go to Penn St
47:07 - Making the case for Matt Rhule staying at Nebraska
55:17 - Predictions on who will get the Penn St job
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