Big Ten Contenders, Sleepers & Questions Heading Into the Season
Rece Davis and ESPN senior writer Dan Wetzel dive into the Big Ten title chase, asking the question: Can Penn State finally go the distance? As Ohio State navigates a high-stakes quarterback battle and Oregon reloads under Dan Lanning, Illinois is looking to reverse its luck in one-possession games. Meanwhile, sleeper teams like Nebraska, USC, and Iowa are quietly making noise… setting the stage for a season full of surprises.
00:00 - Welcome
1:53 - The Big Ten true title contenders are…
5:57 - Is Penn St a lock to win the Natty?
9:06 - Which QB will lead the Ohio St Buckeyes?
14:17 - Has Ohio St gone too far vs Michigan?
22:10 - Oregon reloaded with the right players?
28:05 - One-possession games to break Illinois’ way?
30:20 - Big Ten sleepers: Nebraska and Michigan
38:59 - Big Ten sleepers: USC and Indiana
49:05 - Big Ten sleeper: Iowa
54:10 - Who’s still figuring it out in the Big Ten?
1:03:19 - What you need to know about the college sports executive order
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1:17:24
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1:17:24
What You Need to Know About This Season’s QB Races
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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1:12:45
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1:12:45
Looking ahead to SEC Week 1 ; Predicting headlines and big outcomes
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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1:08:54
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1:08:54
Who’s the Real Big 12 Favorite? The GameDay Pod Is Calling It Now
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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53:30
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53:30
College Football’s NIL Crisis Starts Here: The Wisconsin vs Miami Lawsuit
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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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!
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