Ok, maybe he does actually know ball.
It’s conference championship game weekend in college football, and with College GameDay heading to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta between Texas and Georgia, there were plenty of former players or alumni of both schools that the morning kickoff show could have turned to for their celebrity guest picker this week.
But instead they chose…actor Timothée Chalamet.
Of course Chalamet is one of the biggest actors in the world right now with roles in movies like The King, Dune and the title character in the 2023 remake Wonka. He’s also set to portray the legendary Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown, so naturally everybody assumed that’s why he was chosen to appear on GameDay and not for his knowledge of college football.
When Chalamet was announced as the guest picker, naturally people were skeptical, especially because he’s a New York City native who graduated from Columbia University and NYU, so he has no connection to either of the schools in the SEC championship – or any SEC school.
So yeah, ESPN took a lot of heat for their choice:
Chalamet has to be the funniest, most out of left field, purely “WTF” yet somehow fucking amazing guest picker Gameday has ever had.
I legitimately don’t think that man has ever watched a single snap of college football in his life.
But alsopic.twitter.com/xa5wWub1OD
— Barstool SEC (@SECBarstool) December 6, 2024
SEC fans finding out a guest picker at the SEC title game has dual French citizenship is the scandal of the century https://t.co/lxkgMDtBmI
— David Ubben (@davidubben) December 5, 2024
Nothing says SEC like a New York City Ivy Leaguer with dual citizenship in the US & France. Nailed it. https://t.co/rFXhPzDObc
— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) December 6, 2024
nick saban is gonna be disgusted when they bring this twink out https://t.co/4ANmHZtbdG
— big content guy (@bigcontentguy) December 7, 2024
No one could find an influential UGA graduate in Atlanta? https://t.co/x6wGa1eemr
— Georgia P. Burdell™️ (@georgiapburdell) December 6, 2024
Timothee Chalamet at his 1st college football game: https://t.co/czyLfUVn6t pic.twitter.com/okrwiH5w5f
— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) December 6, 2024
Not exactly a popular choice.
But this morning, Chalamet had his opportunity to prove people wrong – and he came out and showed just how much he knows about college football.
While making his picks, Chalamet turned heads when he started dropping stats and records about the MAC and Ohio University football, gave a shoutout to now-Florida Gators coach Billy Napier when picking Louisiana to win the Sun Belt championship game (over my Marshall Thundering Herd, so I’m gonna disagree with him there), and even dropped a reference to the SMU “Pony Express” of the 1980s when picking the Mustangs to win the ACC over Clemson.
Ok, ok, I wasn’t familiar with his game.
Now, of course Chalamet is a famous actor, so could he just be reading off a script? Sure. Maybe he’s never watched a football game in his life and he was just playing another role on GameDay. But either way, folks were both shocked at impressed that he managed to hold his own up there alongside Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit and Des Howard.
Alright, I'm gonna give credit where it's due…
Timothee Chalamet was a solid guest picker.
Pleasantly surprised.
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) December 7, 2024
Everyone mocking GameDay when they said Timothee Chalamet was going to be the guest picker… he’s the most confident knowledgeable sounding celebrity this year. Could all be an act, but who cares.
— John Willey (@DaddysinCharge) December 7, 2024
Did NOT have Timothee Chalamet breaking down college football in depth on my 2024 bingo card.
Best Gameday guest picker this season. pic.twitter.com/glbrZRYQ9c
— Yanni Tragellis (@yannitragellis) December 7, 2024
Timothee Chalamet being a real deal college football fan, being a SMU fan, and knowing about all these teams was so crazy to me. I thought just invited cause famous, but he was a legit great guest picker on College Gameday.
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) December 7, 2024
Timothee Chalamet came prepared , researched, and referenced the Pony Express. Maybe the best College Gameday guest picker yet. NYC guy. Respect.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) December 7, 2024
Timothee Chalamet being a great guest picker could be the biggest upset of the day
— Maryland Sports Report (@410sportsreport) December 7, 2024
And honestly, his picks are looking pretty good so far (although it’s still early in the day). Chalamet was the only member of the panel to choose Ohio over Miami of Ohio in the MAC championship, and the Bobcats are current steamrolling the RedHawks 31-3. He also chose Arizona State to take down Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game, and that prediction’s looking pretty good too as the Sun Devils are up 45-10 over the Cyclones.
If I were the Texas Longhorns, I’d be feeling pretty good right now.
Maybe Chalamet really does know ball. Or maybe he’s just a really good actor. Either way, people were pleasantly surprised by his appearance on GameDay.
Although I’m really hoping he’s wrong about picking the Cajuns in the Sun Belt championship. Go Herd!
