
ESPN College GameDay
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!
Latest episodes

Oct 25, 2023 • 46min
How Much Should We Care About Michigan’s Sign Stealing?; Just How Good Are the Wolverines?; Most Vulnerable Conference to Miss CFP
Rece Davis kicks off the show talking about Michigan’s purported sign stealing and how much he actually care about the ordeal. Then, Bill Connelly stops by to discuss being the line between mocking and being bothered by Michigan’s attempt to gain an edge, if college football should transition to helmet communications, how good they think Michigan really is, the “best vs. most deserving” debate, and which conference could miss out on the College Football Playoff. :28 Theater of the Abusrd: Michigan Sign Stealing3:06 How much should we care?9:22 How does this happen?10:37 Sign Stealing diminishes accomplishments11:00 Bill Connelly joins the podcast!12:20 Torn between mocking and bother18:14 Sign stealer has a career in logistics20:31 Exploring helment communications26:05 How good is Michigan?31:02 Best vs. Most Deserving Debate38:04 Top Tier Schools Parody39:52 Which conference is most vulnerable to miss the CFP? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 23, 2023 • 1h 6min
Ohio States Wins with Defense; North Carolina Blows It; Alabama Right on Schedule; Year of the Near Miss
Rece Davis holds it down with Pete Thamel on assignment, kicking off the podcast talking about Ohio State winning with defense, what should we expect from Penn State, Michigan stealing signs, Oz the Mentalist and a conundrum on the GameDay set, and North Carolina blowing it against Virginia. Then, Ryan McGee stops by to discuss Washington nearly losing to Arizona State, Alabama cleaning up the penalties, what’s still ahead for Tennessee, Lincoln Riley shutting down press availability after USC lost to Utah, and how do you say “Marriott?”0:00 Ohio State beats Penn State3:00 Expectations for Penn State7:30 Michigan’s spies9:00 Oz The Mentalist18:00 North Carolina Blows It22:15 Ryan McGee27:36 Washington survives Arizona State31:56 Alabama cleans it up against Tennessee35:44 Tennessee’s tightrope forward39:17 Year of the Near Miss45:25 Utah beats USC53:49 Utes have won four-straight against the Trojans57:30 How do you pronounce “Marriott?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 19, 2023 • 50min
If Not Now, When, Penn State?; Can Florida State Score on Duke?; Tiebreakers Galore; Week 8 Picks
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Stanford Steve pick eight Week 8 games in the latest addition of the Race for the Ribeye.6:46 Race for The Ribeye: Week 87:18 Penn State @ Ohio State (-4)10:40 Washington State @ Oregon (-20)13:05 Minnesota @ Iowa (-3.5)18:15 Tennessee @ Alabama24:44 Duke @ Florida State (-14)30:00 Georgia State @ Louisiana (-2.5)31:56 Utah @ USC (-6.5)37:07 Clemson (-3.5) @ Miami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 18, 2023 • 57min
Clarity or Chaos in Ohio State-Penn State?; The James Franklin Experience; Fearing an Iowa Playoff Run
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel give some love to the Tuesday night games that featured trash-talking billboards and more thin-skinned head coaches. Then, the guys discuss College GameDay heading to Columbus, if Ohio State-Penn State will provide more clarity or chaos, and if Nittany Lion passing game will slice the Buckeye secondary. Then, Ryan McGee stops by to talk about The James Franklin Experience, if an 11-1 Iowa could make the College Football Playoff, Alabama-Tennessee, and if there’s any optimism for USC with Utah coming to town.3:35 WONDERFULLY THIN-SKINNED COACHES: BILLBOARD KERFUFFLE8:43 COLLEGE GAMEDAY GOES TO COLUMBUS!10:56 WHAT TO EXPECT: PENN STATE VS. OHIO STATE19:55 CAN PENN STATE’S OFFENSE MEASURE UP?23:26 PENN STATE’S MENTAL HURDLE27:32 RYAN MCGEE JOINS THE SHOW28:12 HOW CAN PENN STATE OVERCOME THEIR ROAD BLOCK?30:42 WILL PENN STATE BE VICTORIOUS?32:42 CAN IOWA MAKE THE CFP?41: 42 ALABAMA VS. TENNESSEE PREVIEW46:48 ALABAMA DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH50:05 UTAH VS. USC PREVIEW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 16, 2023 • 1h 7min
Washington AND Oregon Look like CFP Threats; USC Melts Down; How Many Contenders are Left?
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel look back at their time in Seattle and discuss the electric early-morning environment, if both teams could win a national championship, if the better team won, USC melting down against Notre Dame, and if the loss will inspire change in Lincoln Riley. Then, Bill Connelly stops by to talk about Brock Bowers’ injury, how many teams are College Football Playoff contenders and their early thoughts on Penn State-Ohio State.1:00 Washington was electric2:30 Both teams could win the championship5:00 Oregon’s play calling9:55 Did the better team win?13:03 The spotlight on Kalen DeBoer20:19 USC melts down against Notre Dame BREAK23:13 Adversity for Lincoln Riley29:25 Will the Big Ten adapt to Lincoln Riley?31:35 Brock Bowers out 4-6 weeks35:42 Bill Connelly BREAK38:39 Missouri looks good at mid-season41:16 Weird Georgia team right now44:21 Is North Carolina legit?47:25 How many CFP contenders are there?52:51 Early leans on Penn State @ Ohio State56:55 Dumb Loses More Than Smart Wins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 12, 2023 • 46min
GameDay Headed to Seattle; What Does Iowa-Wisconsin Mean for the Big Ten East?; UCLA’s Inside Track; Week 7 Picks
Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Stanford Steve pick nine Week 7 games in the latest addition of the Race for the Ribeye.7:29 Race for the Ribeye: Week 7 Picks8:15 Oregon @ Washington (-3)15:11 Texas A&M @ Tennessee (-3.5)19:23 Iowa @ Wisconsin (-10)22:40 Marshall @ Georgia State (-1)24:52 Wyoming @ Air Force (-10.5)27:54 USC @ Notre Dame (-3)32:11 Miami @ North Carolina (-3)37:05 Missouri @ Kentucky (-2.5)39:12 UCLA @ Oregon State (-3.5) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 11, 2023 • 1h 3min
Oregon-Washington Preview; Big Game Dillion Gabriel; Wonderfully Thin-Skinned Coaches
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss watching college football on a Tuesday, College GameDay headed to Seattle, the showdown between Bo Nix and Michael Pennix Jr., North Carolina and Miami trying to take the next step, USC at Notre Dame, Dillion Gabriel stepping up for the Sooners, and the Group of 5 game with big time bowl implications.1:15 Theater of the Absurd: Coastal Carolina vs. Appalachian State8:48 Paradigm Switches Throughout CFB History11:35 College GameDay goes to Seattle!12:26 Could Oregon or Washington Make the CFB?15:45 Washington vs. Oregon Showdown19:17 QB Comparison: Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr.24:28 Miami vs. UNC Preview29:33 Wonderfully Think Skinned Coaches37:24 Rivalry Renewed: USC at Notre Dame46:49 Dillion Gabriel Steps Up in Big Games49:08 Biggest Questions About Washinton vs. Oregon52:49 Game to Watch this Week: Miami vs. UNC53:58 G5 Games with NY6 Implications Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 10, 2023 • 1h 12min
Oklahoma and Texas are SEC Ready; Sam Hartman House of Horrors; Should USC Fire Alex Grinch?
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss a wild day at the Cotton Bowl that saw Oklahoma victorious over Texas, if both the Longhorns and Sooners could make the College Football Playoff, Notre Dame’s offensive identity, a philosophical question about firing coordinators, Miami nearly retiring Dumb Loses More Than Smart Wins, and Georgia looking like a near-finished product.3:24 Oklahoma was ready8:28 Dillion Gabriel 10:33 Could OU and Texas make the CFP?12:44 SEC ready16:54 Hartman House of Horrors23:40 Notre Dame offensive identity28:11 Would firing Alex Grinch actually help USC?32:53 Ryan McGee36:23 Wacky ending to USC-Arizona46:05 Miami blows it against Georgia Tech57:06 Alabama pulling it together1:03:06 Georgia looking more and more polished Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 6, 2023 • 40min
Oklahoma-Texas Face Off in the Red River Showdown; Toughest Game to Project; Week 6 Picks
Pete Thamel and Stanford Steve hold it down with Rece Davis sidelined and make their Week 6 picks. They discuss if Maryland can take a step forward vs Ohio State, Steve’s first time at the Red River Showdown, why Texas A&M-Alabama is the toughest game to project, and if Fresno State is the best G5 team.1:30 Maryland @ Ohio State (-20)5:52 Texas (-6.5) vs. Oklahoma12:44 LSU (-6.5) @ Missouri 15:52 Washington State @ UCLA (-3.5)17:18 Alabama (-2.5) @ Texas A&M21:25 Kentucky @ Georgia (-14.5)25:11 Fresno State (-6) @ Wyoming29:19 Jen Lada with Kenneth Murray Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 5, 2023 • 46min
Which Conference Could Miss the College Football Playoff?; Quinn Ewers in the Heisman Mix; Week 6 Best Games
Pete Thamel, Ryan McGee and Bill Connelly discuss the 5-0 Missouri Tigers, whether the No. 1 team in the country should be judged on accomplishment or potential, which conference will be left out of the College Football Playoff, if Kentucky can topple Georgia, Quinn Ewers in the Heisman mix, their biggest concerns about the transfer portal and the best games of Week 6.0:00 Welcome to the College GameDay Podcast!4:03 Who’s the No. 1 Team in the Country?11:15 Which League Will Be Left Out of CFP?17:42 Can Kentucky Take Down Georgia?23:42 Texas and Oklahoma: An Actual Carnival31:49 Texas State Fair Menu Breakdown34:53 Biggest Concerns With Transfer Portal39:45 Most Interesting Game: UCLA vs. Washington State Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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