Not every day, a Hollywood star steps onto ESPN’s “College GameDay” set and impresses football fans with in-depth knowledge. But that’s exactly what happened when Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet joined the show on a busy Saturday of conference championship action.
Chalamet, best known for his roles in films like “Call Me by Your Name” and “Dune,” surprised everyone by appearing in Atlanta before the SEC Championship Game between Texas and Georgia.
At first glance, many wondered what connection Chalamet had to college football. After all, he’s a famous actor, not a known sports fanatic, and he wasn’t there to cheer on a favorite team. Instead, he seemed primarily there to promote his upcoming movie, “A Complete Unknown,” which shares a corporate parent with ESPN. Still, nobody expected him to wow the crowd with his football insights.
As soon as he started making his picks, Chalamet proved he’d done his homework.
He brought up stats, discussed how certain teams had evolved from previous seasons, and even mentioned some lesser-known players like Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro and SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings. His knowledge went beyond big-name programs and household college football stars.
Before making his sixth pick of the day, Chalamet confidently declared, “I wanna go 6-0.” While he didn’t quite reach that perfect record, he still managed a respectable showing.
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Chalamet made seven total picks on Saturday:
- Jackson State over Southern (SWAC Championship): Correct
- Ohio over Miami (OH) (MAC Championship): Correct
- Louisiana over Marshall (Sun Belt Championship): Incorrect
- Arizona State over Iowa State (Big 12 Championship): Correct
- SMU over Clemson (ACC Championship): Incorrect
- Oregon over Penn State (Big Ten Championship): Correct
- Texas over Georgia (SEC Championship): Incorrect
Chalamet finished with a 4-3 record. Although he didn’t achieve the flawless performance he hoped for, he did better than many expected. One of his most impressive calls was picking Ohio, an underdog, to beat Miami (OH). That choice paid off in a big way, with Ohio crushing Miami 38-3. His correct prediction there earned him serious cred among fans and analysts.
When Chalamet was first announced as the guest picker, some viewers rolled their eyes. He’s a Hollywood star, not a coach or a former player, and had never shown much interest in college football before. But by the end of the segment, he had won over many skeptics. His understanding of the matchups, willingness to dig into the details, and confidence in making bold picks showed that he took this opportunity seriously.
Chalamet’s appearance is a reminder that passion for sports can come from unexpected places. Whether he’s a lifelong fan who kept it private or someone who just enjoys doing research and joining in the fun, he brought fresh energy to “College GameDay.” His performance left fans chatting online, praising his preparation, and admitting they were pleasantly surprised.
Even though he was there primarily to promote his film, Timothée Chalamet’s College GameDay picks were anything but a simple plug. It became a fun, memorable moment where a Hollywood A-lister stepped outside of his comfort zone and showed the college football world that he could talk the talk—on and off the big screen.
