ESPN College GameDay

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel reflect on new coach hirings, retirements and changes that have shaken the college football world. They discuss latest news of Freshman Caleb Downs possibly entering the transfer portal, the surprise retirement announcement of Nick Saban and his reasons why plus where Jim Harbaugh will land next. We get a behind the scenes look into Rece’s thoughts on his exclusive interviews with these coaches. Hopefully Jim Harbaugh won’t announce where he’s coaching next while Pete is on vacation. Rece's Exclusive Interview with Jim Harbaugh After Winning the National Championshiphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yljRESjsZjo&ab_channel=ESPNRece's Exclusive Interview with Nick Saban After Announcing His Retirementhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-NTaEbfAtg&ab_channel=ESPN00:20 - Caleb Downs Headed To Portal02:04 - Alabama Ripple Effects After Saban’s Retirement04:48 - Nick Saban BTS Interview Moments18:01 - Asking Jim Harbaugh About His Future Plans21:16 - The Question Rece Wishes He Asked Jim Harbaugh22:31 - Jim Harbaugh BTS Interview Moments25:12 - Jim Is The Best Team Builder27:29 - If Harbaugh Leaves Michigan, Who Takes Over?29:26 - Nick Saban BTS Interview Moments32:28 - Rece’s Early Reporter Days Covering Nick Saban36:35 - Saban and Harbaugh’s Relationship With The Media39:33 - Alabama and Michigan Players Headed To The Portal42:26 - Teams Moving Quickly On Portal Players44:13 - Washington Hires Arizona’s Jedi Fish As HC47:09 - Arizona Hires San Jose St’s Brent Brennan As HC51:22 - Harbaugh To Leave Michigan During Pete’s Vacation52:36 - College Gameday Pod Off-Season Preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel convene for an emergency podcast following Nick Saban’s retirement from coaching. The guys discuss how it would always be a surprise when Saban decided to retire, if he is the greatest coach in the history of college football, how he revived the University of Alabama football program, the university using Saban’s success to boost academics, what Rece is hearing from Alabama fans, what’s next for Saban after coaching, and who’s on the shortlist of candidates to coach the Crimson Tide.0:00 Nick Saban retires from Alabama1:22 Saban’s retirement was always going to be a surprise4:07 Rece on Saban: Great coach in history of CFB7:53 Alabama was down when Saban arrived in 20078:26 Alabama capitalized on football’s success9:36 Saban’s impact on the Tuscaloosa community11:20 What Rece is hearing from fellow alumni14:53 What’s next for Nick Saban?17:58 Early Alabama coaching candidates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are chatting at midfield of NRG Stadium following the Michigan Wolverines’ 34-13 victory over the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff national championship game. The guys discuss Michigan dominating despite Washington’s chances, the Wolverines relying on the big play, what makes this a Jim Harbaugh-style championship, the legacy of this win for Michigan, what’s next for Harbaugh, and parting thoughts on the 2023 season.0:49 MICHIGAN DOMINATED, WASHINGTON HAD CHANCES1:39 DONOVAN RETURNS FROM WITNESS PROTECTION2:08 MICHIGAN’S BIG PLAYS2:38 WASHINGTON WAS A LITTLE OVER-AMPED TO START3:35 A HARBAUGH CHAMPIONSHIP: DOMINANT, MESSY AWKWARD 6:00 MICHIGAN PROVED TO BE ELITE7:35 BLAKE CORUM’S CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENTS8:33 HARBAUGH WON WITH HIS ROOTS: DEFENSE & RUNNING THE BALL9:16 MICHIGAN PLANTS THE FLAG10:18 WHAT’S NEXT FOR JIM HARBAUGH?13:13 FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE 2023 SEASON Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel share their final thoughts on the Michigan Wolverines against the Washington Huskies in the national championship game. They discuss an update on Dillon Johnson’s health, Michael Penix Jr.’s massive hands, how both teams scouted the College Football Playoff, if Rece revealed his man crush to Will Johnson, keeping an eye on the Wolverines’ defensive personnel, who they like to win the game, the latest on the portal moves and NFL draft declarations, and if Michigan would target Kalen DeBoer if Jim Harbaugh left Ann Arbor. Later, GameDay's Jen Lada talks to former Wolverine and current Cleveland Brown Maurice Hurst from the Mercedes-Benz ESPN College Football Podcast Sprinter.1:20 DILLON JOHNSON INJURY UPDATE5:46 DOES WASH OL TROY FAUTANU HAVE TROUBLE BUYING PANTS?6:30 MICHAEL PENIX’S MASSIVE HANDS9:30 THAMEL: WASHINGTON HAD TWO SEASONS11:00 WASH & MICH SCOUTED ALL THE POTENTIAL CFP TEAMS12:00 BOTH TEAMS SEEM VERY RELAXED12:39 DID RECE REVEAL HIS MAN CRUSH TO WILL JOHNSON?14:21 WASHINGTON’S THE UNDERDOG AGAIN (+4.5)21:30 MICHIGAN’S DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL WILL BE TELLING25:50 MICHIGAN HASN’T SEEN AN OFFENSE LIKE WASHINGTON28:00 PICK THE GAME: MICHIGAN (-4.5) V. WASHINGTON36:30 TEXAS’ TE JA'TAVION SANDERS DECLARES FOR THE NFL DRAFT37:26 WHO WILL MIAMI LAND AT QB?38:15 THAMEL: I EXPECT J.J. MCCARTHY TO DECLARE FOR THE DRAFT39:00 MICHIGAN WILL BE RADICALLY DIFFERENT NEXT SEASON41:30 SPECULATION: HARBAUGH MOVES ON, WHO WOULD MICHIGAN TARGET?43:45 JEN LADA WITH MAURICE HURST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss how Washington stayed on script to make the national championship game, the Huskies’ offensive line keeping Michael Penix Jr. upright, Rece potentially interviewing Jim Harbaugh after winning a title, and Kalen DeBoer’s championship experience. Plus, the latest on Ohio State and Miami’s quests for a transfer portal quarterback. And, could Judge Judy fund an NIL program?02:10 - Washington Clinches Title Appearance07:29 - Washington Interior O-Line vs Michigan interior D-Line12:44 - Connor Stalions at Rose Bowl Game14:42 - How Would Fans React To Michigan Title25:20 - Kalen DeBoer Wealth of Championship Experience 32:11 - Upcoming Transfer Portal News34:44 - Miami's QB Situation39:05 - Judge Judy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel and Paolo Uggetti run it back one last time at the Rose Bowl, this time recapping the Washington Huskies’ 37-31 win over the Texas Long Horns in the College Football Playoff semifinals. The guys discuss the Huskies winning yet another one-score game, Washington’s wide receivers, Michigan needing to prepare for a different kind of offense and what image they’ll remember from Michigan defeating Alabama in the Rose Bowl.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel react to the Michigan Wolverine’s 27-20 overtime victory against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff semifinals. The guys discuss how Michigan out SEC’d Alabama, Jim Harbaugh’s gutsy fourth down call, Blake Corum’s overtime touchdown run, J.J. McCarthy making plays and a cathartic win for the Wolverines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Desmond Howard discuss fans swarming Des, if a 12-team playoff will hasten expansion to 16 teams, Des’ thoughts on how Michigan will use J.J. McCarthy against Alabama ,and Washington’s offensive line against Texas’ front seven. Then, Rece and Pete talk about Texas and Washington not flinching in close games, why Florida State getting blown out by Georgia doesn’t mean much, and the new year-to-year nature of college football.0:00 Desmond Howard joins the podcast2:48 That time they wouldn’t let Mack Brown on the field at the Rose Bowl4:05 This is the last four-team College Football Playoff6:58 Will the 12-team playoff hasten expansion to 16?8:35 Rose Bowl preview9:39 How will Michigan handle Jalen Milroe’s legs11:51 Desmond on how Michigan will us J.J. McCarthy13:39 Washington’s offensive line vs. Texas’ front seven15:29 BREAK16:42 Sugar Bowl preview17:16 Anything to glean from last year’s Alamo Bowl19:13 Washington of offensive funk20:35 Washington manufacturing offense21:14 Texas also found way to win close games23:01 Cousin connection in the Sugar Bowl24:12 Georgia beats Florida State 63-325:41 It’s a shame FSU left out of CFP28:24 How to fix bowl season30:39 FSU’s blowout loss doesn’t mean anything32:36 CFB becoming more like CBB33:33 Florida is auditioning for a new conference Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Stanford Steve discuss the College Football semifinal preview at the Rose Bowl. Topics include clash of styles, Michigan's quarterbacks, Jim Harbaugh's legacy, Washington-Texas, and Quinn Ewers's potential return. They also make predictions and enjoy steak!

Pete Thamel and Stanford Steve discuss Florida State's Friday board meeting and the expectation that they will challenge the ACC grant of rights. They also look to where FSU could turn to if they chose to leave the ACC. Lastly, the guys deliver on what to expect from Saturday's bowl games. 0:00 FSU expected to challenge ACC grant of rights2:04 Where would FSU go?10:40 Birmingham Bowl: Troy (-7) vs. Duke13:06 Camellia Bowl: Arkansas State (-3) vs. Northern Illinois15:21 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: James Madison (-2) vs. Air Force18:36 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Georgia State vs. Utah State (-1.5)20:34 68 Ventures Bowl: South Alabama (-17) vs. Eastern Michigan23:20 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Utah (-6) vs. Northwestern28:19 EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose State (-9) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices