Rece Davis defends College GameDay guest picker selection Theo Von amid backlash

ESPN‘s College GameDay returns to Tuscaloosa on Saturday ahead of the Top 20 SEC showdown between No. 10 Alabama and No. 16 Vanderbilt. It’s a rare revenge game after the then-unranked Commodores stunned the college football world with a 40-35 upset of the then-No. 1 Crimson Tide last season in Nashville.

But while Saturday’s game is certainly of the utmost importance for Alabama fans, a vocal majority have turned their immediate ire in another direction — toward College GameDay‘s decision to invite comedian and popular podcast host Theo Von as the show’s celebrity guest picker Saturday in Tuscaloosa. The problem, at least for many Crimson Tide fans, is that Von is a noted fan of the opposition who has a personal relationship with Vanderbilt star quarterback Diego Pavia.

Nate Oats, Justin Thomas, Channing Tatum, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Melissa Joan Hart, James Spann, or literally ANY former Bama Player, and y’all pick Vandy humper, Theo Von. Disrespectful af https://t.co/Rn5J7oSJTK

— Courtney McKinney (@CourtAnne1225) October 2, 2025

While it’s hardly an hard-and-fast rule, College GameDay‘s weekly celebrity guest picker is often a popular fan favorite of the home site fanbase, occassionally even a former star player. Former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington was the guest picker last week in Happy Valley ahead of the Oregon-Penn State game. Two weeks prior, Tennessee women’s basketball legend Candace Parker was the guest picker prior to the Georgia-Tennessee game in Knoxville.

And while ESPN has invited noted Alabama alums Joe Namath and golfer Justin Thomas to pick in previous College GameDay appearances in Tuscaloosa, Crimson Tide fans were largely upset that this weekend’s guest picker is Von — a Nashville resident who recently made a playful bet with Pavia that involved a date with the Vanderbilt QB’s mother.

Rece Davis explains College GameDay’s decision to invite Theo Von as celebrity guest picker

Longtime College GameDay host Rece Davis, an Alabama alum himself, explained the decision to have Von as the guest picker Saturday by citing his national celebrity.

“Have you checked out his social media following? … He’s hilarious,” Davis said of Von, according to AL.com. “He’s been on the show before. I understand schools would like to have one of their legends. And we do that a lot. … We’ve had Joe Namath here. … (But) when you have someone who transcends the game and expands your reach and is also awesome like Theo Von … Theo Von is an easy yes.”

Davis also made the point Crimson Tide fans already have their preferred picker in former coach Nick Saban, who is in his second year as an analyst on the show after retiring from coaching following the 2023 season.

“He’s Theo Von, and also I haven’t heard anybody complain about Nick (Saban) being up there every week,” Davis said Friday, courtesy of the Tuscaloosa News‘ Colin Gay. “I mean, not that Nick isn’t going to tell you what he thinks, and he might pick against Alabama tomorrow or any other time. He’s got the right to do that and he might. But if you’re talking about association, is there anybody more associated with Alabama than Nick Saban? … And I don’t know the update, if Theo is dating Diego’s mom or if that’s real or not. But if it is, I’m sure he can still make his picks and have some fun. And, also, the crowd can have some fun going ‘Boo Theo Von, we don’t like it that you’re dating Diego Pavia‘s mom.'”

Jokes about Von’s love life aside, Davis made it clear anybody that’s genuinely upset by who ESPN invites to pick among that day’s biggest college football games is overthinking it.

“Look, I’m being very tongue-in-cheek about this. We’re delighted to have Theo Von because he’s a big-time star. And if there are some people that prefer to see a former (Alabama) player (as the guest picker in Tuscaloosa), they have a right to think that and I respect that, it’s understandable,” Davis continued. “I love the fact that people are passionate enough to be unhappy about it. But at the same time, it’s fun. They’re picking games and Theo Von is in the business of fun, for the most part. So I understand, but at the same time, I think if you take a half-step back and look at it, it’s OK. It’s really OK.”