

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 27, 2023 • 1h 4min
Michigan Takes Down Ohio State; Texas A&M Hires Mike Elko; Alabama Stuns Auburn with Miracle TD
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss Michigan's rivalry win over Ohio State, the electric atmosphere in Ann Arbor, and the brewing battle for the College Football Playoff No. 4 spot. Then, ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee joins the show to talk about the news of Texas A&M hiring of head coach Mike Elko, what he brings to the team, and the initial challenges he now faces. Finally, the discussion turns to Alabama winning the Iron Bowl over Auburn with a miracle touchdown on fourth-and-goal.00:00 The electric atmosphere when Michigan beat Ohio State8:00 How should the CFP Committee judge Florida State?12:00 Could OSU's Mike Gundy end Texas' CFP hopes?16:20 Who wins right now? Texas or Florida State17:15 Who wins right now? Texas or Oregon20:00 CFP Rankings: The fight for No. 422:20 Oregon vs. Washington Preview25:15 ESPN Senior Writer Ryan McGee joins the show26:00 News: Texas A&M hires Mike Elko33:30 Texas A&M HC Mike Elko's credentials40:00 Texas A&M HC Mike Elko's first test43:20 Recapping Alabama vs. Auburn's thrilling ending58:00 Recapping a great rivalry weekend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 21, 2023 • 1h 13min
Ohio State-Michigan: Winner Take Everything; We're Missing THE Upset of the Season; Week 13 Picks
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Bill Connelly discuss Barry Odom and UNLV’s exciting season, their advice for coaches seeking the next job, and Missouri vying for a 10-win season. Then, the guys pick 10 Rivalry Week games in the latest edition of the Race for The Ribeye.0:00 Year of Bill Connelly and Barry Odom2:20 How they evaluate Coach of the Year5:49 Barry Odom and UNLV’s exciting season8:12 Advice for coaches seeking new jobs11:01 “I might be a duck for a while”14:50 Missouri vying for 10 wins15:50 Pete sabotaging ad reads16:22 Bill’s Japanese-themed Thanksgiving19:36 Race for the Ribeye: Week 1322:33 Ole Miss (-10) @ Mississippi State26:11 Iowa @ Nebraska (-2)29:11 UTSA @ Tulane (-3)32:53 Oregon State @ Oregon (-13.5)37:02 Kentucky @ Louisville (-7)41:15 Ohio State @ Michigan (-3.5)50:43 Maryland (-1) @ Rutgers52:51 Washington State @ Washington (-16.5)58:26 Florida State (-6.5) @ Florida1:05:01 North Carolina (-3) @ N.C. State Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 20, 2023 • 1h 3min
Jonas Brothers Rock GameDay; Jordan Travis' Injury; Scenario that leaves the SEC Out of the CFP?
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss a top-tier College GameDay environment at James Madison University, a sensation performance from the Jonas Brothers, and Jordan Travis’ injury altering the College Football Playoff picture. Then, Ryan McGee stops by to talk about the one scenario that would leave the SEC out of the CFP, Georgia’s dominance, Ohio State-Michigan as a fitting ending to the four-team CFP era, what we’re losing with a 12-team playoff and their favorite Thanksgiving dishes.0:00 Incredible GameDay at JMU2:24 Pete’s lasting impression of Harrisonburg3:52 Jonas Brothers performance6:39 Special moment for JMU9:28 Rece’s JMU reflection13:14 Top teams pushed, not beaten15:14 Jordan Travis out for the season22:40 The one scenario that leaves the SEC out of the CFP24:45 Ryan McGee28:17 Georgia rolls36:31 What we’re losing in a 12-team playoff43:11 Conference championships have to go45:08 Bye weeks are too NFL47:37 No one looking out for the sport52:00 Favorite Thanksgiving dish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 16, 2023 • 55min
“The Jonas Brothers Are Busy;" Caleb Williams’ Final Game?; North Carolina Looking Milquetoast; Week 12 Picks
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Stanford Steve discuss their road trip to James Madison for GameDay, the Jonas Brothers' upcoming performance, and JMU's transition to FBS. They also analyze upcoming games including Miami vs. Louisville, SMU vs. Memphis, and North Carolina vs. Clemson. The hosts share their frustrations with gambling and make their picks for the week.

Nov 15, 2023 • 52min
How Georgia Shows Respect; Texas A&M is Historically Average; Oregon State at Washington Preview
Topics discussed include Georgia showing respect to Ole Miss, Michigan's day in court, Jim Harbaugh and Texas A&M, emotions surrounding Oregon State vs Washington game.

Nov 13, 2023 • 1h 1min
Texas A&M Fires Jimbo Fisher; Mississippi State & Boise State Oust Their Head Coaches; Coaching Candidates Galore
Pete Thamel and ESPN.com’s Dave Wilson discuss Texas A&M firing Jimbo Fisher, the mood in College Station, coaching candidates, and Texas dodging another rake against TCU. Then, Bill Connelly stops by to talk about Boise State firing Andy Avalos and Mississippi State firing Zach Arnett. Plus, which jobs might open up next?0:00 Dave Wilson joins the show:31 Texas A&M fire Jimbo Fisher2:35 The mood in College Station5:55 Ross Bjork’s press conference7:14 Jimbo’s huge buyout10:45 Who does Texas A&M hire?14:45 Does A&M need a Texas guy?19:16 Texas keeps dodging rakes24:36 Bill Connelly joins the show26:04 Bill on who A&M should hire31:04 Northwestern rebounding32:48 Boise State fire Andy Avalos36:15 Who should Boise State hire?40:51 Mississippi State fires Zach Arnett 41:25 Who should Mississippi State hire?47:06 Brady Hoke retires52:30 Which jobs open next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 10, 2023 • 57min
Voodoo in the Michigan-Penn State Line?; Georgia’s Underrated Ariel Attack; Ole Miss Outside CFP Chance; Week 11 Picks
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Stanford Steve pick eight games from Week 11 in the latest edition of the Race for The Ribeye.5:41 Maryland (-2.5) @ Nebraska8:23 Michigan (-4.5) @ Penn State14:02 Alabama (-10.5) @ Kentucky16:41 Miami @ Florida State (-14.5)19:55 Tennessee (-1) @ Missouri24:08 Rutgers @ Iowa (-1.5)28:50 Ole Miss @ Georgia (-10.5)35:11 USC @ Oregon (-16.5)43:30 Jen Lada and Elle Duncan in the Mercedes-Benz ESPN College Football Podcast Sprinter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 8, 2023 • 55min
CFP Top Five is Very Tight; Delineating Legal vs. Illegal with Michigan; How do Penn State, USC, TCU Pull Upsets?
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the unchanged College Football Playoff rankings, how closely the top five teams are grouped, the latest on the Michigan investigation, the legal system getting involved, and the most effective punishment if the Big Ten finds the Wolverines guilty. Then, Bill Connelly stops by to talk about what an upset would look like from Penn State, USC and TCU. Plus, the NCAA has a ripe chance to let the good PR flow.0:00 New CFP rankings5:44 The CFP Committee’s consistency and football judgement8:06 The latest Michigan twist!9:52 Delineating between information sharing and on-site scouting15:36 How Michigan should be punished19:52 Big Ten teams’ history of suing the conference24:04 Bill Connelly, Michigan at Penn State28:11 Ole Miss at Georgia31:15 USC at Oregon35:21 Oregon vulnerable secondary37:26 Would Caleb Williams skip a bowl game?41:25 Texas at TCU44:20 Texas avoiding rakes50:27 NCAA do the right thing with JMU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 6, 2023 • 1h 8min
Did Texas Punch Its CFP Ticket?; USC Fires DC Alex Grinch; Michigan Investigation Transcends Sports
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss why Rece thinks Texas won the weekend, Oklahoma State taking down Oklahoma in the last Big 12 Bedlam, and USC players not responding to Alex Grinch. Then, Ryan McGee stops by to talk about Ole Miss winning an elimination game, if the Rebels can hang against Georgia, all of the updates in the Conor Stalions-Michigan story, and Alabama beating LSU in a high-speed affair.0:00 Rece’s Texas take4:21 Steak bet10:05 Oklahoma State wins Bedlam14:16 Rece on MegaCast in the ThunderDome22:30 USC fire Alex Grinch26:37 Ryan McGee29:15 Ole Miss beats Texas A&M30:10 Can Ole Miss beat Georgia this weekend?33:30 Rakes in Texas’ CFP path38:14 Does Jim Harbaugh coach this weekend?43:44 Michigan story has transcended sports50:44 Us vs. The World Only Works for So Long56:53 Alabama beats LSU in a track meet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 2, 2023 • 56min
Final Big 12 Bedlam; Jim Harbaugh Loves Judge Judy; Arizona Flavor of the Moment; Week 10 Picks
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Stanford Steve pick 11 games from Week 10 in the latest edition of the Race for The Ribeye.8:36 Kansas State @ Texas (-4)13:09 Texas A&M @ Ole Miss (-3.5)17:34 Notre Dame (-3) @ Clemson21:26 Oklahoma (-5.5) @ Oklahoma State26:22 Missouri @ Georgia (-15.5)30:53 Iowa (-3) @ Northwestern34:54 James Madison (-5.5) @ Georgia State36:45 Kansas @ Iowa State (-2.5)39:39 Washington (-3.5) @ USC43:47 LSU @ Alabama (-3)50:12 UCLA (-2.5) @ Arizona Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices