It’s safe to say that the general public had no idea why ESPN chose Timothée Chalamet as its College GameDay picker from Atlanta. Born and raised in New York, the 28-year-old actor seemingly has no ties to the Peach State, or Georgia or Texas, for that matter, making the decision to promote him and his upcoming movie all the more volatile.
But as he offered up $400k of his own money for Pat McAfee’s kicking contest — and got in on the MACtion, Chalamet quickly showed that not only was he very good at this, but he belonged. Whether he was putting on an act — he’s an actor, after all — is up for anyone else’s judgment.
We’re not here to make that determination but rather to present the facts. And the facts are that Chalamet stepped up to the plate and delivered, as he waxed poetic about Ohio University QB Parker Navarro, amongst other impressive pulls during his 20-plus minute cameo.
Timothée Chalamet bringing the #MACtion heat on College GameDay. 🏈🎙️📺🎬🔥 pic.twitter.com/Rd6yY6ByUL
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024
The one-minute and 50-second clip below was probably the highlight of Saturday’s GameDay, even if Nick Saban was in rare form.
But Chalamet was in rare territory.
All of the Timothée Chalamet game picks via @CollegeGameDay: pic.twitter.com/e0dnHGw2vb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024
Chalamet might be all about the MACtion, but he’s all about ~ apparently ~ being a supreme ball-knower.
The College GameDay crew — featuring ball knower Timothée Chalamet — makes their Georgia-Texas SEC Championship Game picks. 🏈📺🎙️ https://t.co/PkPcGHCTc4 pic.twitter.com/EXOqNaNdUY
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024
But don’t just take our word for it; social media was buzzing with reactions.
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
I assume he got some professional help with his @CollegeGameDay pick data… but Timothée Chalamet *crushed* it in his Saturday Selections segment! 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/cZ65K9Xcpz
— Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) December 7, 2024
Timothée Chalamet talking about yards per carry on College GameDay. pic.twitter.com/8fneJp6eel
— Kevin Redfern (@KevinMRedfern13) December 7, 2024
Ohio University QB Parker Navarro when Timothee Chalamet starts breaking down his stats on College Gameday pic.twitter.com/S7WAJnUXBt
— Randy (@randy__vision) December 7, 2024
I’ve never been more wrong about anything in my life than I was about Timothee Chalamet college football knowledge. Im speechless. This guy knows ball. pic.twitter.com/pMuzQyVqpj
— Girl Father (@TIMBO_SL1CE) December 7, 2024
So basically, Timothée Chalamet has done more college football research for this one episode of “College Gameday” than Pat McAfee has done his entire time on the show.
— Will Leitch (@williamfleitch) December 7, 2024
Timothee Chalamet ball knower
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 7, 2024
Timothée Chalamet has done his homework here and taken the picking assignment extremely seriously.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 7, 2024
Chalamet might, indeed, know ball.
[College GameDay]

About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.
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