ESPN College GameDay

Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and Ryan McGee wrap up their ACC Conference Preview by asking the question: Who survives the season? They break down the pressure facing Bill Belichick at UNC, Mike Norvell at Florida State and Dabo Swinney at Clemson. Plus, can James Franklin revive Virginia Tech? Could Cal or Pitt shake up the ACC race? What’s ahead for Duke, Wake Forest, Syracuse, and Boston College?



0:00 - Welcome

0:56 - Belichick, Norvell or Dabo: Who survives the season?

4:24 - Will Belichick return in 2027?

5:00 - UNC’s portal plan: What went wrong?

18:23 - Can Mike Norvell survive another losing season?

24:04 - ACC exit plans and landing spots

28:32 - Is Dabo Swinney under pressure at Clemson?

36:28 - Can James Franklin revive Virginia Tech?

41:20 - Can Cal make noise in the ACC?

42:47 - Can Duke & Wake Forest do it again?

44:56 - Can Pitt enter the ACC title race?

47:07 - Syracuse & Boston College: What’s ahead?

51:19 - What is proper post-hunting etiquette?

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Pete Thamel, Dan Wetzel, and Ryan McGee kick off Part 1 of the ACC Conference Preview with the biggest storylines heading into 2026. Can the ACC change its national perception? Can Miami return to the CFP? Plus, they break down Notre Dame’s evolution and the other ACC contenders that could make a run this season.

0:00 - Welcome

4:15 - Can ACC change its national perception?

11:19 - ACC goes all in on Friday night football

16:41 - Miami’s path back to the CFP

19:35 - Can Miami reload in the trenches?

24:07 - Can Notre Dame leave no doubt in 2026?

27:09 - Can CJ Carr become college football’s top QB?

32:10 - Notre Dame: From Brian Kelly to Marcus Freeman

38:02 - ACC teams that could make a run: Georgia Tech

41:05 - ACC teams that could make a run: Louisville

46:40 - ACC teams that could make a run: SMU

48:04 - Can Virginia build on its breakout season?
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The College GameDay Podcast continues its 2026 Big Ten football season preview as Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel examine the conference’s sleepers, spoilers and potential breakout teams. Can Wisconsin rebound under Luke Fickell? Could Demond Williams Jr. and Washington crash the Big Ten championship race? Are Maryland, Illinois, Nebraska, UCLA, Iowa or Minnesota ready to make a leap?

The crew also discusses Pat Fitzgerald’s first season at Michigan State, Bob Chesney’s UCLA rebuild, Chip Kelly taking over Northwestern’s offense and the debut of the new Ryan Field. Plus, has NIL and the transfer portal erased the SEC’s talent advantage—and should three straight national championships make the Big Ten the best conference in college football?

0:00 Big Ten Football Preview Part 2: Sleepers and Teams to Watch
1:27 Big Ten vs. SEC: Did NIL Shift College Football’s Balance of Power?
11:28 Wisconsin Football Preview: Is Luke Fickell on the Hot Seat?
13:54 Maryland Football Preview: Can Malik Washington Lead a Breakthrough?
15:32 Illinois Football Preview: Can Bret Bielema Keep the Illini Rising?
18:42 Nebraska Football Preview: Can the Huskers Finally Break Through?
20:22 UCLA Football Preview: Bob Chesney and Nico Iamaleava
22:42 Iowa Football Preview: Can the Hawkeyes Find an Offense?
26:06 Michigan State Football Preview: The Pat Fitzgerald Era Begins
30:11 Northwestern Football Preview: New Ryan Field and Chip Kelly
34:49 Washington Football Preview: Can Demond Williams Jr. Become Elite?
40:41 Minnesota Football Preview: Drake Lindsey and Anthony Smith
48:08 Purdue and Rutgers Football Previews: Reasons for Optimism?
54:27 Best Quotes from 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days
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Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel break down the top contenders in the Big Ten as Part 1 of the College GameDay Podcast's conference preview series gets underway. Can Ohio State reclaim the conference crown? Will Oregon finally break through? And does Indiana have another championship run in store? We all that and more on this episode of the College GameDay Podcast!

00:00 - Welcome to the College Gameday Podcast

00:40 - Drafting the top teams in the Big Ten

10:46 - How does Indiana follow up a perfect season?

25:09 - Is Ohio State the team to beat in the Big Ten?

34:45 - Can Dante Moore lead Oregon to a CFP breakthrough?

43:50 - Can USC breakthrough under Lincoln Riley?

48:07 - Can Matt Campbell win right away at Penn State?

51:53 - Who wins the BIG Ten?

55:20 - Thanks for listening!

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Rece Davis, Pete Thamel, and Dan Wetzel react to North Carolina placing Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave and discuss what it means for the program moving forward. Plus, they debate whether this is a make-or-break season for Lincoln Riley at USC, whether Indiana should still be the favorite in the Big Ten, and break down the biggest storylines heading into Big Ten Media Days. All that and more on this episode of the College GameDay Podcast.

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