ESPN College GameDay

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel preview the men's NCAA tournament bracket. They discuss their takeaways for each region, possible upsets, and then make their final four and conference champion picks. More specifically, they discuss UConn as the number one seed and who could possibly take them on, the pros and cons of Arizona, their doubts for Houston making it very far, what to keep in mind when watching NC State, what Kentucky brings to the table, Purdue's and Tennessee's baggage, and so much more!03:30 - East preview: UConn's pathway13:00 - East preview: Possible upsets16:45 - East preview: The effect of Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr.22:30 - West preview: North Carolina's defense against other teams25:00 West preview: Possible upsets28:25 - West preview: The problem with Clemson37:00 - West preview: The intrigue of Arizona44:20 - South preview: The potholes in Houston's pathway46:00 - South preview: How quickly will NC State fall?58:34 - South preview: Kentucky's Reed Sheppard01:05:51 - Midwest Preview: Purdue's & Tennessee's baggage01:11:00 - Midwest preview: Possible upsets01:22:00 - Full bracket preview: Final picks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel share their shock for the news that Nebraska's AD and alum Trev Alberts is expected to agree to a five-year deal with Texas A&M, then expand on Alberts' lengthy history with the Cornhuskers and why they think money may not be the primary deciding factor in this potential move. Then they sit down with Syracuse head coach Fran Brown to discuss the text that got him his job, the obstacle he faces while on the job, and how he plans to dominate recruiting in New York, New Jersey, and beyond.0:00 Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast0:20 Texas A&M Hires Trev Alberts as New AD09:54 Pete Reacts To Syracuse Fran Brown Hire11:24 How Fran Brown Got The Syracuse HC Job25:00 How Brown’s NJ Roots Influence Syracuse’s Program34:00 Brown Addresses Recruiting Against Big Ten & SEC Teams49:00 It’s Important To Be There For Players And Staff56:05 What Determines Success For Syracuse Football 57:23 Syracuse’s Dino BBQ Or Clemson’s Smoking Pig? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith to discuss his swift transition into the role, him having to take on the transfer portal chaos, and how he sees the in-state rivalry with Michigan. Smith also gets into his QB days at Oregon with Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, and what it's like to rub arms with MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo. Lastly, Rece reflects on an old MSU game where comedian Ken Jeong went viral after shouting out his wife, "Tran, you complete me Ho. That's her last name. That's her last name. Relax, ESPN."0:00 - Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast00:18 - Why Are We Moving Off The 12-Team Playoff?12:08 - Unique League Matchups22:54 - Coach Smith On His Arrival at MSU31:51 - Coach Smith: Tom Izzo Is Awesome To Lean On35:22 - MSU Coach Smith Gives a Snapshot of Aidan Chiles51:28 - Jonathan Smith: Ochocinco Caught My Best Throw52:52 - Rece: The MSU Fight Song is Underrated01:01:45 - Rece's Memory of Ken Jeong at Michigan St01:06:06 - Can Pete sing the Syracuse fight song? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and ESPN.com Senior Writer Ryan McGee discuss former USC quarterback Caleb Williams' excitement ahead of the NFL Draft and how he's not pushing an agenda by saying he'd be "excited" if the Chicago Bears take him at No. 1. They also make some player leader picks ahead of the NFL Combine. Lastly, Rece and Ryan chat about how they haven't even adjusted to a 12-team playoff before discussions picked up about a 14-team playoff, and how, for field storming, we should just be like Clemson and walk off the field.0:00 - Welcome To The College GameDay Podcast0:15 - Indianapolis Wind Cut My Spleen01:23 - NFL Draft Underwear Olympics02:43 - Caleb Williams Leverage with NFL Teams10:30 - Caleb Williams No Agenda14:15 - Run the Fastest 40 At The Combine 20:49 - St. Elmo’s Cocktail Sauce23:00 - 14 Team Playoff28:24 - Court Storming 37:30 - Craziest Field Storming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Boston College head coach Bill O'Brien to discuss how he's constructing his program - from targeting o-line players, to developmental coaches, to incorporating NIL. Then he gets into his previous experience and how programs like Penn State, the Houston Texans, and New England Patriots shaped him as a coach. Then, Rece and Pete get into why former Missouri Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois would leave for the University of Arizona, the Pac-12's move which shows why they don't want to go away, and what Pete thinks everyone should keep an eye on in college football right now.0:00 - Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast02:12 - First Impressions of New Boston College HC Bill O’Brien03:46 - Boston College HC Bill O’Brien Sits With Pete Thamel07:04 - HC O’Brien: We Need To Target The Right Guys To Build The Team13:52 - HC O’Brien: Boston College Has To Be Part of NIL Landscape21:35 - O’Brien Kept Penn State Football From Disintegrating 24:49 - Boston College Faces A Challenging Schedule30:38 - Why Would Francois Leave Miz For Arizona36:42 - Pac-12 Hints They Don’t Intend To Go Away40:05 - Gameday Is Headed To UCONN This Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule to discuss how his NFL experience - paired with his time at Temple and Baylor - will help him revive Cornhuskers football, why Rhule rooted for defensive coordinator Tony White to get the UCLA head coach job, and what in the world a Runza is. Then, Rece and Pete get into what it's been like working with former Alabama head coach Nick Saban since he joined ESPN, how Pat McAfee has been able to bring Saban's personality out front and center, and how sure they are that Alabama fans are totally patient, pragmatic, and calm following Saban's retirement and not at all worried that Ryan Grubb is going to the Seahawks.0:00 - Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast01:24 - Ohio St, UCLA, Boston College Coaching Moves04:05 - HC Matt Rhule On The Difference Between Year 1 & 206:05 - HC Matt Rhule Brings NFL Experience To Nebraska09:00 - Rhule On The Attraction Of Being A College Coach13:12 - HC Matt Rhule On Rebuilding Nebraska Football19:23 - HC Matt Rhule On QB Dylan Railoa Coming To Nebraska23:04 - HC Matt Rhule: I Just Want To See Our Players Rip It25:55 - HC Matt Rhule DC Tony White Is The Coolest In The Room28:02 - Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts’ Farm Stories 30:08 - HC Matt Rhule: Jahmal Banks Has Raised The Bar32:05 - HC Rhule: Security Didn’t Want Me Storming The Court 33:23 - Nebraska HC Matt Rhule’s Favorite Local Lincoln Spots37:38 - Former Bama HC Nick Saban Joining ESPN Was No Surprise43:36 - Nick Saban Is Already 100 MPH On NFL Draft Draft Prep44:50 - Bringing Out Nick Saban’s Personality On Gameday47:26 - Peculiar For UCLA Chip Kelly To Go To Ohio State51:25 - Alabama Shouldn’t Worry About Grubb Going To Seahawks59:11 - The Apple Vision Pro Is The Bane Of Our Existence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Washington head coach Jedd Fisch to discuss the two iconic head coaching sires - Stephen Belichick and Brennan Carroll - on his staff, what he's seen of Washington quarterback Will Rogers, and how the NCAA tampering rules affected his departure from Arizona. He also shares a story about his relentless pursuit to get into the OJ trial. Then, Rece and Pete get into the details of the upcoming 12-team College Football Playoff structure, Dartmouth players possibly unionizing, and whether or not Rece is jinxing the North Carolina Tar Heels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss Tennessee being investigated by the NCAA for NIL violations, and the subsequent attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA. They also get into the future of Michigan under Sherrone Moore and then bring in ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller to go over what we can expect from the NFL draft.Tune in next week for when new University of Washington Head Coach Jedd Fisch joins the pod!0:00 - NCAA Investigating Tennessee For NIL Violations11:35 - Update: NCAA Is Sued Post-Tennessee Investigation14:30 - Michigan Hires Sherrone Moore As Head Coach To Replace Harbaugh23:26 - NFL Draft Prediction: QBs Will Dominate The Top32:20 - Are We In An Era of Extreme Offense?36:44 - Will There Be a 1st Round RB In The NFL Draft This Year?43:00 - The Big 12 Football Schedule For 2024 Is Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel talk about Ohio State’s boatload of portal additions - including Alabama quarterback Julian Sayin and Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs - and how this affects new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s program in the upcoming season. Rece and Pete also get into how Ohio State head coach Ryan Day built and supplemented his team. Then, they make some way-too-early pre-season game picks and get into a discussion on how fairly coaches are being judged.00:05 Ohio State's Shift In Roster Makeup09:38 What If We See Ohio St vs Michigan In The Playoffs?15:20 Way Too Early Team Picks For Pre-Season 19:42 Does The Playoff Affect How We Judge Coaches? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel and ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter convene for an emergency podcast to talk about the news of Jim Harbaugh leaving the national champion Michigan Wolverines to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. They get into what kept Harbaugh from getting on the plane to Atlanta, what this means for the Michigan program, and the possibility of Michigan offensive coordinator/offensive line coach, Sherrone Moore, stepping into the head coach role.  1:33 What kept Harbaugh from going to Atlanta?2:10 What’s next for Michigan?2:34 Who will be Michigan’s next head coach?5:36 Adam Schefter’s Harbaugh memories7:44 Expectations for Sherrone Moore11:20 How well does Harbaugh pair with Charges Quarterback Justin Herbert?12:55 Where is Michigan Quarterback, JJ McCarthy’s, range in the draft?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices