ESPN College GameDay

Rece Davis and Dan Wetzel break down the NFL draft through a college football lens. They dive into the biggest storyline of the year: Can Fernando Mendoza live up to the hype as the No. 1 pick? Plus, the guys spotlight potential stars, sleepers, and steals, predict landing spots for QBs Carson Beck and Taylen Green, and share the college players they’ll miss most on Saturdays. 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - Unforgettable NFL draft moments 6:07 - Pittsburgh set for 2026 NFL draft 9:42 - Can Fernando Mendoza deliver as the No. 1 pick? 18:12 - Is Las Vegas the right fit for Fernando Mendoza? 23:25 - NFL draft picks: Hits & misses 32:28 - NFL draft stars & steals to watch for 40:02 - Where will QBs Carson Beck & Taylen Green land? 44:28 - College players we’ll miss: Makai Lemon 45:44 - College players we’ll miss: Peter Woods 46:38 - College players we’ll miss: Haynes King 48:20 - College players we’ll miss: Diego Pavia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel are joined by former Miami Dolphins scout Adam Engroff to pull back the curtain on the world of NFL scouting. From how player reports are built to the challenge of uncovering a player’s true character, Engroff breaks down what teams are looking for and what’s hardest to find. The guys also dive into how scouts sort through conflicting intel, evaluate injury risk vs. durability, and the other factors that go into assessing a prospect. 0:00 – Welcome 0:30 - Inside the life of an NFL scout 5:00 - How an NFL scout builds player reports 9:30 - The difficulty of scouting character 13:50 - Ideal player character traits 16:45 - The wildest Miami scouting story? 22:05 - How one scout shaped Miami’s roster 27:00 - Who’s more intimidating? Coach Parcells or Saban? 30:17 - NFL Draft backroom strategy 34:00 - Does staying in school hurt a player’s draft stock? 40:15 - 2027 NFL Draft hype vs reality 41:55 - The schools that get players NFL-ready are… 46:21 - How to evaluate a player’s injury risk and durability 49:56 - How to handle conflicting intel on a player 52:48 - The best hotel spots are… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and ESPN college basketball insider break down Michigan holding off UConn to win the NCAA national title. They talk about what went wrong for the Huskies and how Michigan won in the paint. Then the guys dive into UNC hiring Mike Malone just hours before the transfer portal opens and his challenge of building a roster. Plus, they discuss NCAA tournament expansion and whether it actually makes the sport better. 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - Michigan holds off UConn, wins NCAA title 5:04 - UConn’s costly mistakes: Free throws, Turnovers 9:19 - Michigan wins behind bigs in the paint 12:47 - Michigan’s Dusty May could’ve coached at Indiana? 16:18 - Michigan’s roster moves pay off 21:59 - UNC to hire ex-NBA coach Mike Malone 23:58 - UNC hires Mike Malone just before transfer portal opens 28:20 - Why is the transfer portal open now and not in May? 30:44 - UNC’s Mike Malone is set to build a roster on the fly 37:59 - NCAA tournament is expanding from 68 to 76 teams 44:55 - Can there be too many portal transfers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Dan Wetzel break down UConn’s dramatic win over Duke and what it means for the Huskies’ legacy. And after another crushing exit, is it time for Duke to rethink its roster strategy? Plus, the guys dive into Michigan’s dominant win over Tennessee, Illinois and Arizona punching their tickets to the Final Four, and the greatest shots in tournament history. 0:00 – Welcome 0:30 - Duke hands UConn the win 7:15 - UConn becoming the next UCLA? 13:37 - UConn’s Tarris Reed steps up 17:05 - The best tourney shots of all time are… 26:34 - Did the best teams reach the Final Four? 30:16 - Michigan demolishes Tennessee 36:55 - Illinois and Arizona advance to the Final Four 42:51 - Duke’s back-to-back crushing losses 45:10 - Duke needs to get older to win? 48:31 - Duke is held to an unfair standard? 50:50 - Tennessee denied Final Four again 53:51 - Tourney goal is to reach the Final Four 55:35 - Pete Thamel on UConn’s game-winning shot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and college basketball insider Jeff Borzello go through the highs and lows of the NCAA Tournament, including Florida’s late-game strategy falling apart, St. John’s buzzer-beater over Kansas, and the possible head coach positions opening up at Kansas and North Carolina. 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - Four days in: Tourney highs and lows 2:42 - Florida’s late-game strategy falls apart 7:18 - Are the extra clock reviews giving teams extra timeouts? 8:52 - St. John’s hits a buzzer beater, Kansas stays frozen 13:41 - Is Kansas Coach Bill Self retiring? 19:32 - Is UNC Coach Hubert Davis on the hot seat? 28:26 - Do Kansas & UNC still hold coaching appeal? 35:36 - Are the Big Ten and SEC squeezing out the rest of the field? 39:24 - Has the NCAA Tourney seeding code been cracked? 45:45 - Can the low majors still compete in the tourney? 48:32 - Is Syracuse legend Gerry McNamara the right coach for the team? 57:15 - Championship picks: Who’s winning it all? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and ESPN college basketball insider Jeff Borzello break down everything you need to know about the Men’s NCAA Tournament bracket. They reveal the must-watch First Four matchup, how much chalk to expect, and whether Florida can repeat as champs. Then they go region by region, spotlighting title contenders, star power, upset alerts, and the matchups that could define the tournament. 0:00 – Welcome 0:30 - Was Auburn robbed of an NCAA Tourney bid? 2:14 - The must-watch First Four game is… 5:23 - Will this be a chalk-heavy tournament? 8:47 - The mid-major competitive advantage is… 13:00 - The tournament sweet spot 16:19 - Will Florida be repeat champs? 22:07 - The East Region best teams 28:04 - The East Region best upset 31:57 - The South Region title contending teams 36:31 - The South Region best upsets 38:58 - The West Region star power players 45:32 - The West Region best upset 46:56 - The Midwest Region highly anticipated matchup 50:54 - The Midwest region best upset 52:54 - NCAA Tournament Final Four locks & title picks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing the latest investigative series from ESPN and 30 for 30 Podcasts, “Murder at The U.” A college football star on the brink of NFL greatness is brazenly executed steps from campus. The case almost goes cold until a team of ESPN reporters start digging… and find a side of the victim he didn’t want people to know. To catch new episodes early, follow “30 for 30 Podcasts” for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Dan Wetzel break down what they thought of the White House roundtable, specifically which ideas made sense, where they found common ground, and where they disagree. They also challenged some of the narratives including the idea that players are being left behind academically and that college sports has a revenue problem, arguing instead the real issue is spending. Then, a College Football Final reunion. Former ESPN analyst Mark May joins Rece to revisit his years alongside Lou Holtz, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, spirited (but respectful) debates, and the humor and heart that define Holtz both on and off camera. 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - White House roundtable: What made sense? 5:00 - Are players being left behind academically? 11:41 - Was the old college football system really better? 19:01 - Executive order coming soon: What will be in it? 23:24 - College sports’ big problem is spending, not revenue 30:13 - ESPN’s College Football Final reunion: Mark May joins Rece Davis to talk Lou Holtz 35:09 - Mark May on his civil debates with Lou Holtz 37:49 - Mark May on Lou Holtz’s acting chops 39:00 - ESPN’s Final Verdict origin story 44:29 - Would Lou Holtz thrive in the modern game? 48:27 - Lou Holtz hated drinking …water? 50:30 - Lou Holtz’s go-to line was… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down whether college basketball is in the middle of a resurgence, and what that momentum could mean for college football. They examine whether Florida basketball can realistically match the standard set by Florida Gators football and discuss what football should learn from both the rise and missteps of college hoops. Plus, the guys tackle whether a White House roundtable can actually fit college sports. 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - Is college hoops making gains on college football? 6:51 - Can Florida Gators basketball match the school’s football standard? 13:03 - What college football can learn from college basketball 22:39 - Tension between Miami (Ohio) vs Auburn 27:16 - Why NCAA Tournament expansion is a bad idea 41:26 - Will the White House roundtable fix college sports? 44:59 - WH roundtable: The biggest issue about this meeting 52:18 - WH roundtable: The clearest path to a solution is… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down why schools are playing it safe with nonconference scheduling, how CFP panic is shaping those decisions, and whether a targeting rule change could be coming. The guys also preview a historic quarterback class to watch next season. 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - Pete’s snowstorm side quest 4:35 - Schools fear big nonconference games? 9:52 - CFP panic and scheduling safer games 13:58 - How to become an elite team 17:55 - Give the fans what they want 23:31 - Hockey vs college football 28:22 - Targeting rule change coming 38:03 - The historic QB class to watch next year 41:59 - The top dual-threat QB is… 44:48 - The top QB with a size advantage is… 48:00 - The top QB with a high growth curve is… 50:58 - The top QB who’s an anomaly is… 54:22 - Which QBs will elevate this season? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Dan Wetzel discuss the changing landscape of college sports. They break down Sacramento State’s $18M move to the MAC, North Dakota State’s jump to the Mountain West, and whether moving up a conference is really worth it. They also discuss whether Nebraska truly belongs in the Big Ten or Big 12. 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - Sacramento St to MAC for $18M 3:48 - North Dakota State going to FBS, headed to MWC 13:20 - Is moving up a conference actually worth it? 15:37 - Where does Nebraska belong? The Big Ten or Big 12? 21:12 - Why championships affect a school’s identity 27:16 - Should some sports be played regionally? 31:40 - Do all conference games really matter? 39:48 - Should schools get to control their own schedules? 46:08 - Miami University coach vows to wear a Speedo if… 53:53 - Next year: What to do when football and Valentine’s Day collide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel discuss the Super Bowl through a college football lens, including how big games are covered, Sam Darnold being the first USC QB to start the Super Bowl, and more. They also zoom out to the bigger picture in college football: the postseason calendar colliding with the NFL. How late is too late for the National Championship? 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - The Super Bowl from a college football reporter’s POV 3:52 - The formula for covering a big game 9:54 - USC’s Sam Darnold and other weekend storylines 13:35 - College football and NFL postseason dates colliding 17:09 - Should college football challenge the NFL more? 23:09 - Ready for a late National Championship on January 25, 2027? 29:58 - Sit a QB to fix the postseason calendar? 37:08 - Expand the CFP to 24 to fix the postseason calendar? 51:54 - Duke vs UNC …and Jordan Hudson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down the rapidly changing football landscape, starting with eligibility rules. They ask, who actually has the power to fix them? They dig into whether players should be allowed to move between the pros and college, break down potential playoff tweaks and close with some vintage Lou Holtz stories. 0:00 – Welcome 0:30 - Vols QB files lawsuit for extra season 3:22 - What should college eligibility rules be? 6:30 - Is it okay for players to move between the pros and college? 8:54 - Why not go pro first, then play in college? 13:53 - The disconnect between Congress and college 18:53 - Should NCAA be leading reform as opposed to Congress? 23:37 - NFL & NBA Draft to get undermined? 38:57 - August Repercussions: Colleges to start mining NFL waiver wires? 42:49 - What’s changing in the 12-team playoff? 52:05 - Vintage Lou Holtz stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel break down Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s tampering accusations and why his public callout is different from others. They also dive into the wave of lawsuits sweeping across college sports, Charles Bediako’s jump from the G League to the SEC, whether declaring for the NBA Draft should end a college career, and the latest on Darian Mensah amid his lawsuit with Duke. What could happen with that and where will he ultimately land? 0:00 – Welcome 0:30 - The latest on who’s suing who 2:17 - UNLV once signed a player from juvenile detention? 11:00 - Big joke there are unenforceable deals 17:22 - What’s the Dabo vs. Ole Miss tampering fight? 21:14 - Why Dabo calling out tampering is a big deal 36:30 - Indiana after the title run 42:30 - Charles Bediako goes from G League to hooping in the SEC 47:06 - Should declaring for the NBA Draft end a college career? 55:02 - Why lawmakers shouldn’t fix everything, just a few rules 59:16 - Darian Mensah to go to Miami amid his Duke lawsuit? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, & Dan Wetzel break down the biggest moments from the National Championship, including the underthrown pass that turned into the game-sealing interception, the hits that left both QBs taking shots all night, and what Indiana’s rise means for the future of the sport. 0:00 - Welcome 0:36 - Top National Championship moments 3:23 - Curt Cignetti’s huge 4th-and-5 call from the red zone 8:43 - Details on Miami’s underthrown pass that led to a game-sealing interception 10:48 - How the QBs were rocked in a very physical game 14:06 - Indiana’s rebuild, the closest comps are… 19:04 - Indiana’s National Championship win is proof that depth no longer matters? 25:13 - Can Indiana keep it rolling into next season and beyond? 27:05 - Indiana to take the No. 1 spot in the next preseason poll? 34:12 - Miami’s outlooking for next season 37:55 - In the postseason, is the north taking over? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis sits down with Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and Miami head coach Mario Cristobal ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship to talk about how each quarterback evolved this season, the adversity that shaped their teams, and what they’re expecting when they take the field Monday night. 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - Coaches get honest about their demeanors 4:03 - How to achieve program alignment 8:12 - How Carson Beck won the locker room 9:14 - What’s the key to winning the game? 10:05 - The season-turning moment for each coach 14:35 - The one question you’d ask the other coach is… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and former ACC coach Dave Clawson break down Miami’s resurgence this season and the two players to watch for in the National Title game. Then, they shift to Indiana’s rise under Coach Curt Cignetti and the blueprint he used to turn the program into a title contender. To close, they make their National Title picks, peek at what the next wave of College Football Playoff expansion could look like, and hit some recent portal news, specifically how Texas and Alabama have been faring. 0:00 - Welcome 0:40 - Miami: Is ‘The U’ officially back? 3:28 - The play that turned Miami’s entire season around 7:43 - Miami’s two poison players are… 12:27 - How Curt Cignetti established Indiana’s culture 15:25 - How Curt Cignetti made Indiana a title-contending team 21:01 - The issue with using refs from different conferences in the CFP 24:19 - Which fanbase takes over the title game? 29:03 - Which team wins the National Championship? 32:41 - CFP expansion: 16 vs 24 teams 40:12 - As the CFP gets larger, rosters get smaller? 50:05 - Portal news: Texas has loaded up 54:45 - Portal news: Alabama can’t keep up due to a money gap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down Indiana’s statement win over Oregon, a complete domination that sent Hoosier Nation into a frenzy. But on the other side, the loss raises bigger questions about why Oregon can’t break through when the national title game is in reach. Then, Pete takes you behind the scenes after the final whistle. Plus, the guys dive into the Miami vs Ole Miss game and how Miami survived but failed to land the knockout blow when they had the chance. 0:00 - Welcome 0:44 - Indiana obliterates Oregon 10:05 - Indiana fans are living the dream 16:28 - Miami failed to close out Ole Miss early 25:49 - Curt Cignetti has mastered modern college football 30:19 - Oregon can’t seem to break through in the playoff 34:35 - Hoosier nation will make it to the national title game 38:00 - Behind the scenes moments after Indiana vs Oregon game 43:27 - What happened with Dante Moore? 46:59 - Oregon and Ole Miss quarterback spots still open 52:52 - Will Dante Moore and Trinidad Chambliss go to the NFL or stay in college? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down how academics are complicated the college football transfer portal. They dig into Indiana’s approach to the portal, how Texas Tech has become increasingly competitive against SEC programs, and whether Michigan and Penn State can translate major coaching investments into landing top players. The guys then turn their attention to the College Football Playoff semifinals, highlighting the most intriguing matchup and picking who they think will advance to the national title game. 0:00 – Welcome 5:26 - Academics vs The college transfer portal 12:30 - Indiana’s approach to the transfer portal 20:48 - Texas Tech vs SEC in the transfer portal 29:21 - Michigan & Penn St got coaches, can they get players? 34:20 - How the transfer portal changed everything 45:48 - BTS of Pat Coogan receiving Rose Bowl MVP award 53:20 - The CFP semifinals can’t miss game is… 1:07:08 - The CFP semifinals, who advances? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel & Max Olson break down a chaotic College Football Playoff quarterfinals, starting with Ole Miss taking down Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The conversation then turns to Indiana’s physical dominance against Alabama, then to Oregon’s defense that left Texas Tech unable to move the ball. Plus, the guys get into Miami’s win over Ohio State which they say comes down to winning the game on the ground. To close, with the transfer portal officially open, they get into the bidding wars that are underway. 0:00 - Welcome 0:30 - Ole Miss downs Georgia in Sugar Bowl 4:36 - How Georgia got the ball at the end 9:55 - Pete Golding gets credit for keeping Ole Miss alive 14:53 - Indiana’s physicality buries Alabama 22:20 - Alabama has no excuse for a 35-point loss 27:46 - Texas Tech failed to move the ball against Oregon 30:42 - Ole Miss is the SEC’s last hope in the CFP 35:00 - Transfer portal has opened & the bidding wars have begun 38:47 - Miami outrushes Ohio St to secure the win 48:41 - Transfer portal clock is on, teams have 2 weeks to shape rosters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices