Actor Timothée Chalamet surprised fans with his in-depth college football analysis as the special guest picker on ESPN's "College GameDay." Initially, his selection sparked confusion due to his lack of overt connection to the sport. However, Chalamet quickly impressed the panel and viewers with his insightful predictions.
Starting strong, Chalamet confidently picked Jackson State to win their eighth consecutive game, citing their impressive roster with 11 all-conference players. He continued to showcase his research throughout the segment, earning praise from co-host Kirk Herbstreit, who remarked on Chalamet's commitment to providing informed picks for all six games.
One of Chalamet's most notable predictions involved the Clemson-SMU ACC Championship game. Referencing SMU's legendary "Pony Express" running attack of the 1980s, featuring Eric Dickerson and Craig James, he expressed his support for SMU and highlighted quarterback Kevin Jennings as a potential Heisman contender. For the SEC Championship, Chalamet sided with Texas over Georgia, giving a nod to his "Interstellar" co-star and prominent Texas supporter, Matthew McConaughey.
Chalamet's picks included:
- Jackson State over Southern University (SWAC Championship)
- Ohio over Miami (Ohio) (MAC Championship)
- Louisiana over Marshall (Sun Belt Championship)
- Arizona State over Iowa State (Big 12 Championship)
- SMU over Clemson (ACC Championship)
- Oregon over Penn State (Big Ten Championship)
- Texas over Georgia (SEC Championship)
Social media erupted with positive reactions to Chalamet's appearance. Many users expressed their surprise at his deep football knowledge, praising his research and genuine enthusiasm. FOX Sports' Peter Schrager also commended Chalamet's performance, specifically mentioning his "Pony Express" reference. The "College GameDay" broadcast took place in Atlanta, Georgia, in anticipation of the SEC Championship game.
Beyond football, Chalamet is set to star in the Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown," releasing on December 25th, in which he will perform some of Dylan's iconic songs.
