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Newsstand: College GameDay’s guest picker tabs Notre Dame to win the national championship

Kyle Kellyby: Kyle Kelly08/26/24ByKyleKelly
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College GameDay (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

The 2024 college football season began last Saturday in Dublin, Ireland, when Florida State faced Georgia Tech. ESPN College GameDay was on hand and had its analysts and guest picker pick their 2024 national champions. One of them chose Notre Dame.

WWE star “Sheamus” (Stephen Farrelly) — a Dublin native — picked the Fighting Irish to win this year’s College Football Playoff. Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard chose Oregon, while Pat McAfee went with Georgia. But Sheamus is all in on Notre Dame and its third-year head coach. 

“We’re in Dublin city, we’re in Ireland. I have to go with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame,” he said. “Marcus Freeman has created a culture at Notre Dame that, so far, is unbelievable. He’s going to be the one to bring the gold back.”  

Earlier this month, Notre Dame used Sheamus to announce its “Irish Wear Green” game, which will take place when Louisville comes to town on Sept. 28. Sheamus said he would be in attendance if he does not have a wrestling event.

“I am so pumped for this team,” he said. “I am so pumped that you’re leading them — we have a great leader in you. So, I am just excited. We are a few weeks away from the season, and there hasn’t been this much excitement in a long time.

“It’s going to be a banger — banger, after banger, after banger, after banger.”

The Irish kickoff the 2024 season on Saturday against Texas A&M. College GameDay will be in College Station, Texas, for the marquee matchup. 

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“How consistent is Riley Leonard able to be throwing the football? I’ve had my question marks around how consistent he can be throwing the ball down field — not saying he can’t. I need to see it in this game.”

— On3 national college analyst J.D. Pickell on Sunday when providing an early look at the Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M game. 

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