ESPN College GameDay

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel preview the men's NCAA tournament bracket. They discuss their takeaways for each region, possible upsets, and then make their final four and conference champion picks. More specifically, they discuss UConn as the number one seed and who could possibly take them on, the pros and cons of Arizona, their doubts for Houston making it very far, what to keep in mind when watching NC State, what Kentucky brings to the table, Purdue's and Tennessee's baggage, and so much more!

03:30 - East preview: UConn's pathway

13:00 - East preview: Possible upsets

16:45 - East preview: The effect of Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr.

22:30 - West preview: North Carolina's defense against other teams

25:00 West preview: Possible upsets

28:25 - West preview: The problem with Clemson

37:00 - West preview: The intrigue of Arizona

44:20 - South preview: The potholes in Houston's pathway

46:00 - South preview: How quickly will NC State fall?

58:34 - South preview: Kentucky's Reed Sheppard

01:05:51 - Midwest Preview: Purdue's & Tennessee's baggage

01:11:00 - Midwest preview: Possible upsets

01:22:00 - Full bracket preview: Final picks

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel share their shock for the news that Nebraska's AD and alum Trev Alberts is expected to agree to a five-year deal with Texas A&M, then expand on Alberts' lengthy history with the Cornhuskers and why they think money may not be the primary deciding factor in this potential move. Then they sit down with Syracuse head coach Fran Brown to discuss the text that got him his job, the obstacle he faces while on the job, and how he plans to dominate recruiting in New York, New Jersey, and beyond.

0:00 Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast

0:20 Texas A&M Hires Trev Alberts as New AD

09:54 Pete Reacts To Syracuse Fran Brown Hire

11:24 How Fran Brown Got The Syracuse HC Job

25:00 How Brown’s NJ Roots Influence Syracuse’s Program

34:00 Brown Addresses Recruiting Against Big Ten & SEC Teams

49:00 It’s Important To Be There For Players And Staff

56:05 What Determines Success For Syracuse Football 

57:23 Syracuse’s Dino BBQ Or Clemson’s Smoking Pig?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith to discuss his swift transition into the role, him having to take on the transfer portal chaos, and how he sees the in-state rivalry with Michigan. Smith also gets into his QB days at Oregon with Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, and what it's like to rub arms with MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo. Lastly, Rece reflects on an old MSU game where comedian Ken Jeong went viral after shouting out his wife, "Tran, you complete me Ho. That's her last name. That's her last name. Relax, ESPN."

0:00 - Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast

00:18 - Why Are We Moving Off The 12-Team Playoff?

12:08 - Unique League Matchups

22:54 - Coach Smith On His Arrival at MSU

31:51 - Coach Smith: Tom Izzo Is Awesome To Lean On

35:22 - MSU Coach Smith Gives a Snapshot of Aidan Chiles

51:28 - Jonathan Smith: Ochocinco Caught My Best Throw

52:52 - Rece: The MSU Fight Song is Underrated

01:01:45 - Rece's Memory of Ken Jeong at Michigan St

01:06:06 - Can Pete sing the Syracuse fight song?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and ESPN.com Senior Writer Ryan McGee discuss former USC quarterback Caleb Williams' excitement ahead of the NFL Draft and how he's not pushing an agenda by saying he'd be "excited" if the Chicago Bears take him at No. 1. They also make some player leader picks ahead of the NFL Combine. Lastly, Rece and Ryan chat about how they haven't even adjusted to a 12-team playoff before discussions picked up about a 14-team playoff, and how, for field storming, we should just be like Clemson and walk off the field.

0:00 - Welcome To The College GameDay Podcast

0:15 - Indianapolis Wind Cut My Spleen

01:23 - NFL Draft Underwear Olympics

02:43 - Caleb Williams Leverage with NFL Teams

10:30 - Caleb Williams No Agenda

14:15 - Run the Fastest 40 At The Combine 

20:49 - St. Elmo’s Cocktail Sauce

23:00 - 14 Team Playoff

28:24 - Court Storming 

37:30 - Craziest Field Storming

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Boston College head coach Bill O'Brien to discuss how he's constructing his program - from targeting o-line players, to developmental coaches, to incorporating NIL. Then he gets into his previous experience and how programs like Penn State, the Houston Texans, and New England Patriots shaped him as a coach. Then, Rece and Pete get into why former Missouri Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois would leave for the University of Arizona, the Pac-12's move which shows why they don't want to go away, and what Pete thinks everyone should keep an eye on in college football right now.

0:00 - Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast

02:12 - First Impressions of New Boston College HC Bill O’Brien

03:46 - Boston College HC Bill O’Brien Sits With Pete Thamel

07:04 - HC O’Brien: We Need To Target The Right Guys To Build The Team

13:52 - HC O’Brien: Boston College Has To Be Part of NIL Landscape

21:35 - O’Brien Kept Penn State Football From Disintegrating 

24:49 - Boston College Faces A Challenging Schedule

30:38 - Why Would Francois Leave Miz For Arizona

36:42 - Pac-12 Hints They Don’t Intend To Go Away

40:05 - Gameday Is Headed To UCONN This Week

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule to discuss how his NFL experience - paired with his time at Temple and Baylor - will help him revive Cornhuskers football, why Rhule rooted for defensive coordinator Tony White to get the UCLA head coach job, and what in the world a Runza is. Then, Rece and Pete get into what it's been like working with former Alabama head coach Nick Saban since he joined ESPN, how Pat McAfee has been able to bring Saban's personality out front and center, and how sure they are that Alabama fans are totally patient, pragmatic, and calm following Saban's retirement and not at all worried that Ryan Grubb is going to the Seahawks.

0:00 - Welcome To The College Gameday Podcast

01:24 - Ohio St, UCLA, Boston College Coaching Moves

04:05 - HC Matt Rhule On The Difference Between Year 1 & 2

06:05 - HC Matt Rhule Brings NFL Experience To Nebraska

09:00 - Rhule On The Attraction Of Being A College Coach

13:12 - HC Matt Rhule On Rebuilding Nebraska Football

19:23 - HC Matt Rhule On QB Dylan Railoa Coming To Nebraska

23:04 - HC Matt Rhule: I Just Want To See Our Players Rip It

25:55 - HC Matt Rhule DC Tony White Is The Coolest In The Room

28:02 - Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts’ Farm Stories 

30:08 - HC Matt Rhule: Jahmal Banks Has Raised The Bar

32:05 - HC Rhule: Security Didn’t Want Me Storming The Court 

33:23 - Nebraska HC Matt Rhule’s Favorite Local Lincoln Spots

37:38 - Former Bama HC Nick Saban Joining ESPN Was No Surprise

43:36 - Nick Saban Is Already 100 MPH On NFL Draft Draft Prep

44:50 - Bringing Out Nick Saban’s Personality On Gameday

47:26 - Peculiar For UCLA Chip Kelly To Go To Ohio State

51:25 - Alabama Shouldn’t Worry About Grubb Going To Seahawks

59:11 - The Apple Vision Pro Is The Bane Of Our Existence

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel sit down with Washington head coach Jedd Fisch to discuss the two iconic head coaching sires - Stephen Belichick and Brennan Carroll - on his staff, what he's seen of Washington quarterback Will Rogers, and how the NCAA tampering rules affected his departure from Arizona. He also shares a story about his relentless pursuit to get into the OJ trial. Then, Rece and Pete get into the details of the upcoming 12-team College Football Playoff structure, Dartmouth players possibly unionizing, and whether or not Rece is jinxing the North Carolina Tar Heels!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss Tennessee being investigated by the NCAA for NIL violations, and the subsequent attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA. They also get into the future of Michigan under Sherrone Moore and then bring in ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller to go over what we can expect from the NFL draft.Tune in next week for when new University of Washington Head Coach Jedd Fisch joins the pod!0:00 - NCAA Investigating Tennessee For NIL Violations

11:35 - Update: NCAA Is Sued Post-Tennessee Investigation

14:30 - Michigan Hires Sherrone Moore As Head Coach To Replace Harbaugh

23:26 - NFL Draft Prediction: QBs Will Dominate The Top

32:20 - Are We In An Era of Extreme Offense?

36:44 - Will There Be a 1st Round RB In The NFL Draft This Year?

43:00 - The Big 12 Football Schedule For 2024 Is Here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel talk about Ohio State’s boatload of portal additions - including Alabama quarterback Julian Sayin and Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs - and how this affects new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s program in the upcoming season. Rece and Pete also get into how Ohio State head coach Ryan Day built and supplemented his team. Then, they make some way-too-early pre-season game picks and get into a discussion on how fairly coaches are being judged.

00:05 Ohio State's Shift In Roster Makeup

09:38 What If We See Ohio St vs Michigan In The Playoffs?

15:20 Way Too Early Team Picks For Pre-Season 

19:42 Does The Playoff Affect How We Judge Coaches?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel and ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter convene for an emergency podcast to talk about the news of Jim Harbaugh leaving the national champion Michigan Wolverines to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. They get into what kept Harbaugh from getting on the plane to Atlanta, what this means for the Michigan program, and the possibility of Michigan offensive coordinator/offensive line coach, Sherrone Moore, stepping into the head coach role. 

1:33 What kept Harbaugh from going to Atlanta?

2:10 What’s next for Michigan?

2:34 Who will be Michigan’s next head coach?

5:36 Adam Schefter’s Harbaugh memories

7:44 Expectations for Sherrone Moore

11:20 How well does Harbaugh pair with Charges Quarterback Justin Herbert?

12:55 Where is Michigan Quarterback, JJ McCarthy’s, range in the draft?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices