A look at the top candidates to be named the guest picker for ESPN's 'College GameDay' between the No. 2 Oregon Ducks and No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers.
Oregon Duck fans may still be riding the high of beating the Penn State Nittany Lions in a top-10 showdown just over a week ago in a Happy Valley whiteout. Still, after a well-deserved bye week, it's time to get back up and prepare for another top-10 matchup.
This week, the No. 2 Ducks will host the No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers in Autzen Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a matchup big enough to draw ESPN's 'College GameDay' to town for the 13th time. It will be Oregon's 33rd time featured on the show, one of the most in all of college football.
One of the time-honored traditions of ESPN’s flagship show is bringing on a celebrity guest picker to make game picks at the end of the show. The last time Oregon hosted 'GameDay' was last year when the Ohio State Buckeyes came to town. It was television star and Oregon alum Kaitlin Olsen who was tabbed as the guest picker.
So who will it be this weekend in Eugene? We went down the list of notable celebrity Duck fans and famous Oregon alumni. Of course, there are a lot of great former players who could be options, but wouldn't be able to make it because their sports are in season. However, here are the top candidates we put together, in no particular order:
Kenjon Barner
Who? Three-time Super Bowl Champion
Why? Kenjon Barner has started to blossom as a former player getting into the media world, working for the Big Ten Network, CBS, and launching his own Oregon podcast, "Ducks of a Feather," with Jonathan Stewart. He's one of the top former Oregon players in the media world right now, and would be fantastic on GameDay.
Satou Sabally
Who? Phoenix Mercury Star
Why? The former Oregon star is currently in the midst of a WNBA Finals series against the Las Vegas Aces, but unfortunately, there is a chance that it will be over by the time Saturday rolls around, with Phoenix currently down 2-0. She would be a fantastic choice to appear on GameDay, and a great ambassador for the WNBA.
Ty Burrell
Who? America's "Favorite Dad" on ABC's Modern Family
Why? Ty Burrell has been entrenched in the Duck universe over the past few years, narrating Oregon's "That Team Out West" documentary throughout training camp last year. While this isn't a ranked list of candidates, I think Burrell might be one of the top options.
Patrick Chung
Who? 3-time Super Bowl Winner
Why? Patrick Chung has already announced that he will be in Eugene this weekend for the Oregon vs. Indiana game, and he will be making an appearance on the Ducks Rising Podcast later this week in the lead-up. Why not make a stop on Saturday morning on the GameDay set? He's among the most successful Pro Ducks of all time and would be fun to see on the show.
Payton Pritchard
Who? NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2024)
Why? Though he is in the middle of the preseason with the Boston Celtics, could Payton Pritchard make a trip out to Eugene between games on Friday and Sunday? As one of the fan favorites over the years, it would be awesome to see this former NBA champion and NBA Sixth-Man of the Year from last season on campus once again.
Cole Hocker
Who? Olympic Gold Medalist in 2024 Paris Games (1500m)
Why? Cole Hocker, the former Oregon star, shocked the track world this summer when coming from behind to win the gold medal in the 1500m at the 2024 Olympics. He may be off the radar for the average college football fan, but this would be an awesome way to celebrate the history of Tracktown, USA.
Joey Harrington
Who? Captain Comeback
Why? If you have to ask, then we've got a problem. Joey Harrington is one of the most beloved Ducks there is, and he would be a fantastic face for the University on a national stage.
Ashton Eaton
Who? Former Decathlon World Record Holder
Why? For a while, Ashton Eaton held the title of the greatest athlete in the world, holding the world record in the decathlon along with two Olympic Gold Medals. He is widely known and deeply celebrated in Eugene as one of the kings of Tracktown, USA.
Neil Everett
Who? Former ESPN Anchor
Why? You could argue that there is no former Duck more famous in the sporting world than Neil Everett, the former long-time ESPN anchor. He would be a great, well-known guest picker on the show. Howzit!
Geoff Schwartz
Who? 8-Year NFL Veteran
Why? Geoff Schwartz has seen his media career take off as of late, and he's been doing a ton of work in the Oregon media circle, breaking down film each week for Ducks Rising. He's a great ambassador for the University and would have a great stage presence with the crew.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Top 'College GameDay' guest pickers for No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 7 Indiana
Category: General Sports
