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 Alabama
1:22 Saban’s retirement was always going to be a surprise
4:07 Rece on Saban: Great coach in history of CFB
7:53 Alabama was down when Saban arrived in 2007
8:26 Alabama capitalized on football’s success
9:36 Saban’s impact on the Tuscaloosa community
11:20 What Rece is hearing from fellow alumni
14:53 What’s next for Nick Saban?
17:58 Early Alabama coaching candidates
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EMERGENCY POD: Nick Saban Hangs It Up

Join ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis and Senior Writer Pete Thamel, as well as many of GameDay’s key analysts and contributors, as they discuss and debate the biggest stories and break down the biggest games in college football, while also leaning into the key basketball moments and storylines as well. With episodes Mondays/Wednesday/Fridays in the fall, and a year-round weekly presence this is the place to be for the college sports fan.

Sports

Football

Pete and college football writer Paolo Uggetti, who covered USC football, discuss the Heisman Trust's "reinstatement" of Reggie Bush's 2005 Heisman Trophy to Bush, his contentious legal battle with the NCAA, the anomaly of OJ Simpson's Heisman Trophy sitting in USC's Heritage Hall but not Bush's, and what's next for Bush and USC's football program.
 
0:00 Reggie Bush has his 2005 Heisman Trophy back
1:45 USC's Heritage Hall, where the Trojans' Heisman Trophies sit
3:08 How Reggie Bush influenced USC over the years
4:37 The day Reggie Bush was allowed back on USC's campus
6:05 Reggie Bush and the NCAA's contentious relationship
10:40 USC's upcoming press conference
12:08 The time Reggie Bush got excited about the hip hop duo Kid 'n Play
13:32 Some Reggie Bush stats
14:59 What's next for USC and Reggie Bush?
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Reggie Bush gets his HEISMAN BACK; USC's upcoming press conference; What's next for Bush and USC?

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel take stock of the latest notable players in the transfer portal, how they performed last season and what to expect from them next season. Then NFL Insider Field Yates joins to lift the curtain on the NFL Draft drama circulating around the Minnesota Vikings, QB Drake Maye and other teams trying to make a splash in this year's draft. Finally, they get into some QB drafting strategy and what aspects of a player can't be measured ahead of the draft.

0:00 Welcome 
0:54 - What’s It Like To Have Dinner WIth Rece & Pete?
02:58 - Where Will CB Cormani McClain Transfer To?
06:05 - RB Damien Martinez Leaves Oregon St
09:24 - NFL Insider Field Yates Joins The Pod!
11:48 - Where Does The Drama Start In The NFL Draft?
13:23 - Addressing QB Drake Make Criticism
18:37 - How Many QBs Go In The First Round?
21:39 - QB Comparison: Michael Penix vs Bo Nix
25:04 - Draft A QB Backup Or Future Star?
28:55 - Prediting Draft Surprises At CB Position
29:47 - Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell
44:20 - What You Can’t Measure In The NFL Draft
44:48 - Film Study With NFL Insider Field Yates
46:08 - Do Fractional Arm Measurements Matter?
46:41 - Draft Night Conundrum: DT T'Vondre Sweat
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Where Will The DRAMA Start In The NFL Draft? + Unexpected Transfer Portal Updates

Pete Thamel and ESPN College Basketball Insider Jeff Borzello delve into UConn's NBA-like offense and the defense that won them a national title against Purdue. They also get into which UConn players will be remembered on this team. And looking to next season, they discuss what roster changes will happen and what Dan Hurley said about the Kentucky head coach job.
 
0:00 How UConn's defense helped them win
5:00 The stretch that determined the game
6:24 Which individual players will be remembered?
8:21 Where does UConn rank among repeat teams?
14:51 UConn's offense in comparison to an NBA offense
17:54 Dan Hurley responds to the Kentucky head coach job
19:58 What does UConn do to get a threepeat?
21:36 UConn's expected roster changes
22:35 Is there more college basketball news coming?
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UConn's Use Of An NBA-Like Offense To Win Title; Dan Hurley Responds to Kentucky HC Job; Predicting What UConn Does For A Threepeat

Pete Thamel and ESPN College Basketball Insider Jeff Borzello recount how they came to break the news that John Calipari is leaving Kentucky and headed across the SEC to Arkansas. They also get into what they think Calipari will do with Arkansas' roster, who Calipari might hire, and whether or not Arkansas will reach the NCAA Men's Tournament Final Four round in the next four years. Lastly, they get into whether or not Kentucky can fill Calipari's spot with UConn's Dan Hurley, Chicago Bulls' Billy Donovan, or even Alabama's Nate Oats.
 
0:00 When the John Calipari-Arkansas whispers started
2:37 John Calipari's fall from dominance
4:49 How John Calipari fits in with Arkansas
6:15 The moment the John Calipari-Arkansas deal happened
10:52 Will Arkansas make the Final Four?
14:16 Kentucky basketball head coach candidates
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Insider Details on How the John Calipari-Arkansas Deal Happened; How Calipari Fits with Arkansas; Possible Kentucky Head Coach Candidates

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and ESPN College Basketball Insider Jeff Borzello break down the Men's NCAA Final Four games - specifically the early slog in the NC State vs. Purdue game and the shooting performance Alabama's Mark Sears put up against UConn's Stephon Castle. And ahead of the championship game, they get into what UConn's Donovan Clingan needs to do to stop Purdue's Zach Edey.

0:00 No. 1 seeds set to face off in men's championship game
3:07 NC State vs. Purdue early slog
8:55 Should Purdue worry about Braden Smith?
14:57 UConn vs. Purdue battle of the bigs
19:15 Foul or not on UConn's Aaliyah Edwards
23:12 Alabama needed to create more threes
25:18 In comparison: UConn and the great Duke teams
26:56 In comparison: UConn and the great Florida teams
27:57 In comparison: UConn and Villanova's 2018 team
32:44 Alabama's Mark Sears was a warrior
34:55 Who will win the men's championship game?
37:34 Who will win the women's championship game?
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EMERGENCY POD: Nick Saban Hangs It Up

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