Rece Davis and Pete Thamel kick things off with a trivia question: how many true freshman QBs have ever led their teams to 10+ wins? That sparks a deep dive into this season’s most compelling quarterback battles… from Ohio State’s high-stakes decision to Notre Dame’s brutal schedule to the uncertainty swirling at Alabama and Colorado. But as teams weigh their options under center, one bigger question hangs over it all: is the 12-team playoff the final answer… or just the next chapter in college football’s evolution?

0:00 - Intro

2:21 - Trivia: Name true freshmen QBs who've won 10+ games

6:28 - Trivia: Name redshirt freshmen QBs who've won 10+ games

17:34 - QB races: Who's ready to break away this fall

22:13 - Ohio State QB: Who starts vs Texas and Michigan?

34:04 - Notre Dame's future QB faces tough schedule

45:00 - QB battles at… Colorado, Alabama, Oregon

53:59 - Which teams will ride one QB? Which ones will rotate?

56:49 - Will the college football playoff stay at 12 teams?

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel break down this year’s SEC Media Days, where the spotlight was bright, but the drama was dull compared to the heat of the 1990s. The real fireworks may be coming in Week 1. With heavyweight matchups like Texas–Ohio State and LSU–Clemson on deck, the guys predict how the headlines might read when the dust settles. Plus, ESPN’s Bill Connelly drops by to share insights from 'Forward Progress', a new must-read guide for every college football fan.

1:00 - SEC media days: Big stage, no heat

3:26 - SEC media days in the 1990s: Plenty of unfiltered feuds

13:02 - Is Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons an SEC game-changer?

19:26 - Is the SEC the deepest conference?

24:29 - Forecasting big outcomes for Week 1

31:36 - Texas vs Ohio State: Potential headlines

37:31 - Alabama vs Florida State: Potential headlines

38:31 - LSU vs Clemson: Potential headlines

42:26 - Steve Sarkisian: What you might not know

43:49 - Kenny Dillingham: What you might not know

46:05 - The go-to college football guide: Forward Progress

50:09 - CFP or the regular season: What's better?

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Pete Thamel and ESPN senior writer Dan Wetzel dig into the latest from Big 12 Media Days, where one of the biggest headlines is the conference’s decision to scrap its preseason poll. Why did they do it? In response, the guys put together a poll of their own, predicting who will rise, fall, and crash the conference title race. Then they turn to Texas Tech’s aggressive offseason spending: will the Red Raiders’ high-stakes strategy pay off, and is this the new blueprint for building a contender?

1:15 - Why did the Big 12 cancel its preseason poll?

3:47 - Utah and Arizona State to win the Big 12?

6:54 - Big 12 sleepers: Cincinnati and Iowa State

10:09 - Oklahoma State and Arizona to finish last in Big 12?

13:45 - Texas Tech big money roster moves

27:11 - Colorado QB battle: Who will lead the Buffs?

31:41 - UCF Scott Frost: Nebraska was not the right job

40:13 - Is Hugh Freeze playing too much golf?

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Rece Davis and ESPN senior writer Dan Wetzel dive into college football’s wild evolution—unpacking the blunders of the BCS, the mounting pressure on the playoff committee, and the lengths coaches will go to chase a title. They also break down a historic NIL lawsuit shaking up the system and expose the murky world of tampering.

0:00 - BCS blunders: Where the old system went wrong

8:52 - CFP committee: Their toughest test

13:40 - The price of the playoff: How far will coaches go?

19:42 - Historic NIL case unfolds: Wisconsin vs Miami

26:52 - How does the NCAA actually police tampering?

29:36 - College Baseball World Series controversy

37:00 - Is Arch Manning really that good?

40:21 - CFB stock watch: Contenders and concerns

48:38 - No city does Fourth of July like…

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are joined by Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, to talk about rising expectations for the Sun Devils heading into the 2025 season. Can ASU be more than a flash in the pan? How does Dillingham keep his team from reading their own headlines? And where is the ceiling for quarterback Sam Leavitt? Then, after a realignment chat, Rece and Pete take you through their list of the top 5 quarterbacks for the upcoming season.

0:00 – Welcome and introducing Kenny Dillingham

01:33 – When did you know Sam Leavitt was the guy?

02:40 – Sam Leavitt’s journey to Arizona State

04:23 – Keeping Sam Leavitt balanced

12:14 – Keeping momentum from year to year

14:58 – Lessons from the BYU game

21:08 – Where does the Big XII stack up against the SEC and Big Ten

24:07 – Replacing Cam Skattebo

27:16 – CFB realignment intel

36:19 – Rece & Pete’s Top 5 QBs for the ’25 CFB season

56:04 – Rece & Pete’s sleeper QBs for the ’25 CFB season

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On June 6th, Judge Claudia Wilken approved a deal between the NCAA, its most powerful conferences, and lawyers representing all Division I athletes. Paving the way for schools to pay players directly for the first time. This landmark moment seems poised to change the landscape of college athletics, especially NCAA football. Rece Davis and Pete Thamel breakdown what we know right now, what the hurdles in the road could be, and discuss whether or not coaches and administrators will be able to follow the rules, now that the rules are clear. Then LSU head coach Brian Kelly joins the show for an exclusive sit down with the College GameDay podcast.

00:00:00 - Judge OK’s $2.8 billion dollar settlement

00:06:22 - Now that the rules are clear, will coaches play fair?

00:18:50 - Brian Kelly joins the show

00:25:03 - Brian Kelly on season opener at Clemson

00:28:15 - Harold Perkins and Whit Weeks health updates

00:31:17 - Garrett Nussmeier season expectations

00:34:42 - Garrett Nussmeier NFL Draft prospect

00:36:54 - How good is the LSU supporting cast on offense

00:39:12 - Brian Kelly on adjusting to LSU

00:42:20 - Brian Kelly on CFP seeding

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Pete Thamel and ESPN senior writer Dan Wetzel break down the SEC’s push to have its grueling schedule factor more heavily into the College Football Playoff. They dive into whether the new 5+11 format truly rewards the best teams, especially with strength of schedule still a murky metric. The duo also weighs in on the uncertain future of the USC–Notre Dame rivalry, growing frustration from Ohio State fans over noon kickoffs, and Michigan’s looming NCAA meeting in the Connor Stalions case. Then, Alabama star Ryan Williams joins the show to talk EA SPORTS College Football 26, training with DeVonta Smith, and his bond with coach Kalen DeBoer.

04:33 - SEC gauntlet schedule deserves CFP reform

07:15 - Will the CFP 5 + 11 playoff format deliver?

16:21 - The State of the USC-Notre Dame rivalry

18:06 - Why USC-Notre Dame Matters in 2025

20:28 - Ohio State fans are over Noon kickoffs

28:49 - Michigan Connor Stalions update

37:38 - Alabama’s Ryan Williams CFB 26 cover star

39:35 - Inside Ryan Williams CFB 26 cover shoot

44:28 - Ryan Williams on training with DeVonta Smith

55:22 - Ryan Williams interview reaction

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel explore the potential future of the College Football Playoff format heading into 2026.

They delve into the possibility of expanding to a 16-team playoff and discuss the SEC’s openness to participating in a broader format.

Also on the pod, Rece Davis sits down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Dabo Swinney and Bill Belichick. Together, they reflect on the evolving landscape of NCAA football, sharing insights into their coaching philosophies, key influences, and distinctive coaching styles. The conversation also highlights how both coaches are adapting to the ever-changing dynamics of the college football world.

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are joined by Duke head coach Manny Diaz! From detailing his aggressive portal strategy to landing quarterback Darian Mensah, to navigating a tough schedule and fueling the storied UNC rivalry, Diaz lays out his blueprint for building a winning culture. He speaks candidly about the trait he sees in championship teams, the rising support for Duke football, and even offers advice to his former colleagues at ESPN.

0:00 - Manny Diaz on Duke's competitive advantage

3:35 - Manny Diaz talks portal strategy and QB Darian Mensah

13:35 - Duke's demanding schedule

19:56 - The trait that leads to wins

24:12 - Manny Diaz on the support for Duke football

28:01 - The Duke-North Carolina rivalry

32:26 - Manny Diaz shares some advice to those at ESPN

37:53 - Duke's potential pathway to the CFP

40:37 - 16-team CFP coming in 2026?

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel dive into the spotlight surrounding Bill Belichick, including his one-hour sitdown with Rece and Dabo Swinney. Rece unpacks the dynamic between the two coaches, Belichick’s presence at the ACC meetings, and their deep football talk—from rugby punts to NFL minds in the college game. Pete shares his latest scouting notes on rising college football talent, while the duo also hits on Miami’s QB outlook, the viability of a new rules committee, and one wild idea: could College GameDay actually end up at the Vatican? 

0:00 - Belichick looms large at ACC meetings

2:25 - Belichick and Dabo sit down for one-hour interview

6:35 - Belichick and UNC: What’s real, what’s rumor?

13:10 - The moment Belichick called himself a rookie

16:10 - Belichick and Dabo talk ball

24:03 - Latest on Miami QB Carson Beck

25:22 - On Pete’s radar: College football prospects

33:55 - A new committee to enforce rules - Will it works?

43:27 - Get College GameDay to the Vatican?

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