- Five-part series features conversations with Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, Miami’s Mario Cristobal, Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr
- 30-minute primetime special highlights all five conversations, Monday, Aug. 10, on ESPN2
Today, ESPN debuts ‘Official Visit with Rece Davis,’ a five-part series featuring College GameDay host Rece Davis traveling across the country for one-on-one conversations with newsmaking college football coaches and players. Davis visits with national champion Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr.
The series debuts Monday, Aug. 10, and runs through Friday, Aug. 14, with new installments airing each day across editions of SportsCenter. A compilation show highlighting all five conversations will air Monday, Aug. 10, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Full-length versions of each interview will be available digitally following each premiere on SportsCenter.
“We’ve been doing some version of all-access on campus for more than 15 years, and this year we wanted to push even further — getting Rece out of the studio and into the real spaces where these coaches and players live their lives,” said ESPN producer Jonathan Whyley. “There’s something really special about spending time with them before the season starts because once fall camp opens and the games begin, everyone’s world gets smaller — the access tightens and the walls go up. Sitting with a coach in his favorite lunch spot or riding with him in his car, before any of that pressure sets in, gives you a completely different person. That’s what we’re chasing with this series.”
Davis’s conversations were conducted at team facilities, local restaurants and inside film rooms, offering a rare, inside look at how top college football figures are preparing for the upcoming season.
This is the second straight year Davis has traveled across the country for a multi-part college football feature series. In 2025, Davis visited with North Carolina’s Bill Belichick, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney.
‘Official Visit with Rece Davis’ Schedule:
Monday, Aug. 10 — Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti
Davis sits with the head coach of the reigning national champion Hoosiers to explore the film-study philosophy at the core of his program-building approach — and to learn the secrets behind Cignetti’s rise to the top of the coaching profession.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 — Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss
Davis travels to Oxford, Miss., for a walk around the city’s famed Square alongside Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, the unofficial mayor of one of college football’s beloved college towns.
Wednesday, Aug. 12 — Miami (Fla.) head coach Mario Cristobal
Davis accompanies Miami head coach Mario Cristobal at a local Cuban lunch spot for a conversation about his roots, why he returned home to Coral Gables and what he envisions for the Hurricanes’ future after leading UM to last year’s CFP National Championship game.
Thursday, Aug. 13 — Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire
Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire has a tradition: after every win, he takes the Corvette his wife gave him for his 50th birthday on a victory ride across Lubbock. Davis traveled to West Texas to ride shotgun.
Friday, Aug. 14 — Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr
The Notre Dame quarterback takes Davis on a tour of the brand-new Shields Family Hall, offering an inside look at the Notre Dame football facility where the Fighting Irish train and spend their time — and delivering an impromptu ping pong lesson along the way.
‘Official Visit’ is just a preview of what’s ahead this fall, as Davis returns to host ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, which enters its 40th season in 2026. College GameDay kicks off Sept. 5 at 9 a.m. ET from LSU, marking GameDay’s 500th show on the road.