

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

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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Oct 8, 2025 • 1h 7min
UNC in Shambles, Bama’s Rolling, and The Texas State Fair? | Week 7 Preview
Who’s to blame for North Carolina’s struggles this season? Can Indiana pull off a shocking upset over Oregon in Eugene? Will Alabama continue their SEC road dominance?
Dan Wetzel and Pete Thamel break down all the chaos heading into a stacked Week 7 of college football. Plus, the guys play a special edition of “Would You Eat It?” — sampling some of the wildest foods from the Texas State Fair. All that and more on this episode of the College GameDay Podcast.
00:00 - Welcome to the College Gameday Podcast
00:43 - UNC in Shambles
20:57 - UNC Staff lacks college football experience
31:19 - Indiana vs Oregon Preview
35:59 - Alabama vs Missouri Preview
38:01 - Is Texas Tech for real?
40:32 - A tough stretch for the Gamecocks
41:14 -Another Kiffin in Baton Rouge
43:24 - The Latest on John Mateer
46:14 - Would you eat it? (Food from the texas state fair)
51:38 - Week 7 Six Pack of Picks
01:03:28 - Thanks for watching The CGD Podcast
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Oct 7, 2025 • 1h 9min
Penn State Collapsing? 🤯 UCLA Loss, CFP Hopes & James Franklin's Future
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down Penn State's unraveling season. They ask if the UCLA loss has crushed the Nittany Lions' playoff chances and if James Franklin will remain with the program. Then they shift the conversation to Texas where they expose the Longhorns' flaws. And in Florida, even after a recent win, the guys question whether Billy Napier can survive the season and emphasize the steep challenge the program would face in replacing both its head coach and playcaller.
0:00 - Intro
0:37 - Penn State's issue: QB and scheme are misaligned
9:52 - Does UCLA loss end Penn State's CFP hopes?
12:59 - James Franklin's future at Penn State in question?
18:22 - Arch Manning under Texas pressure
23:57 - Arch and the entire Texas team are flawed
30:39 - If you fire Billy Napier, you have to fill two roles because…
35:13 - Which teams are true wagons?
45:47 - What is going on? Vanderbilt is entirely transformed
56:01 - Why Alabama can't sleep on Mizzou
1:00:32 - Final word: SEC, Western Carolina, Internet meltdowns
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Oct 1, 2025 • 1h 5min
Week 6 Showdowns: Can Vandy Stun the Tide Again? Miami vs FSU preview
Week 6 brings two massive showdowns in the SEC and ACC. Can Vanderbilt go into Tuscaloosa and upset Alabama for a second straight season? Will Texas survive a tough road trip to The Swamp? Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are back to break down a loaded Week 6 slate across college football. Plus, EJ Manuel joins the show to preview the heated Florida State–Miami rivalry and examine what’s at stake for both programs. All that and more on this episode of the College GameDay Podcast.
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Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 4min
Dan Lanning PROVES Himself + Can He Keep Oregon On Top?
Dan Wetzel is joined by ESPN's Ryan McGee and Max Olson to tackle the big question: Has college football ever been better? From Dan Lanning's statement win over Penn State to whether Kalen DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb can keep their momentum rolling after knocking off Georgia, the drama keeps building. Throw in LSU-Ole Miss chaos fueled by Lane Kiffin's Internet antics and Bobby Petrino's return to Arkansas, it's clear this season shows no signs of slowing down.
0:00 - Has college football ever been better?
7:32 - The blueprint to win
17:43 - Dan Lanning: What's his ceiling in Year 4?
25:05 - Can Kalen DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb stay hot?
30:43 - LSU vs Ole Miss: Madness on and off the field!
35:49 - Lane Kiffin to Florida? To Alabama?
45:19 - Arkansas and Bobby Petrino: The inevitable?
50:32 - Notre Dame to reach CFP without a big win?
56:25 - Last word: North Texas, New Mexico, New Mexico State Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


