ESPN's Guest Picker History Points to Candidates for Tennessee-Texas
The short version
- 'College GameDay' airs from Knoxville on Sept. 26 for No. 13 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Texas
- The show typically picks guests affiliated with the host school, though Timothee Chalamet broke that pattern at the 2024 SEC Championship Game
- Charles Barkley was the first celebrity picker in 2004 in Knoxville and has appeared six times overall
- Peyton Manning, the 2022 Knoxville picker, remains a candidate with nephew Arch Manning starting at quarterback for Texas
- Morgan Wallen, Rick Barnes and repeat guests like Keegan-Michael Key and Kenny Chesney are among other possibilities
As 'College GameDay' heads to Knoxville for No. 13 Tennessee against No. 1 Texas, past guest picker selections offer clues about who might appear.
ESPN's 'College GameDay' will broadcast from Knoxville on Sept. 26 ahead of No. 13 Tennessee's SEC opener against No. 1 Texas, and attention has turned to which celebrity the show will tap as its guest picker.
The program has historically leaned toward figures tied to the host school rather than the visiting team, though exceptions exist. Timothee Chalamet handled picking duties at the 2024 SEC Championship Game despite hailing from New York City and having no connection to either program. That trend would seemingly rule out Texas loyalist Matthew McConaughey.
Charles Barkley set the precedent in 2004, becoming the show's first celebrity picker in Knoxville when his Auburn Tigers faced Tennessee. He has since made six appearances, showing the show will bring guests back. That keeps Peyton Manning in play after serving as the guest picker in Knoxville in 2022; picking him would force the former Vols quarterback to weigh in against Texas, where his nephew Arch Manning starts at quarterback.
The show also draws from famous fans of the host program. Comedian Nate Bargatze, a devoted Vanderbilt supporter, picked games in his hometown of Nashville last season, and Theo Von appeared for the Commodores' game against Alabama. Von has Knoxville ties too, having dumped a Gatorade cooler on coach Josh Heupel after Tennessee beat Florida in 2022 and later helping with a Hurricane Helene relief drive organized by Knoxville native Morgan Wallen, whose recent limited-edition camo shirt references the Tennessee-Texas game has made him a popular candidate.
Other possibilities include Rick Barnes, who spent 17 seasons coaching Texas before taking the Tennessee job in 2015, along with past guests such as Keegan-Michael Key, Bianca Belair, Candace Parker and Kenny Chesney, given the show's willingness to feature returnees.
