Who should be BYU’s ‘College GameDay’ guest picker?
Donny Osmond performs with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square during dress rehearsal at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to prepare to perform at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the "Songs of Hope" tour. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The eyes of the college football world will be upon Provo this weekend.
Hours before No. 8 BYU hosts No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday in one of the most anticipated matchups of the college football season, ESPN will broadcast its “College GameDay” pregame show live from the BYU campus for the first time in 17 years.
Hosting “GameDay” is a major treat for the Cougars, but it raises a pressing question:
Who will be BYU’s guest picker?
Each week, “College GameDay” invites a celebrity or sports figure associated with the host school to appear on the program and predict the winners for some of the day’s notable contests. Guest pickers this season have included Morgan Freeman, Glen Powell and Caitlin Clark.
When “GameDay” last visited Provo in 2009, legendary BYU head coach LaVell Edwards handled the guest-picking duties.
Whether they once starred for the Cougars or currently shine in the entertainment world, here are 12 candidates to represent BYU on “GameDay” this week.
Athletes from BYU
Former NFL quarterback and football analyst Steve Young throws a ball to a fan prior to an NFL game between the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. | Stew Milne, Associated Press
Steve Young: With a Super Bowl ring, a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and decades of television experience, Young feels like a no-brainer. But if ESPN wanted to get really crazy, they could invite his former 49ers teammate — and Notre Dame legend — Joe Montana to join Young as a second picker and create further drama for the weekend.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) reacts during game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, December 12, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. | Scot Tucker
Fred Warner: He’s arguably the NFL’s best linebacker and would be a first ballot Hall of Famer even if he retired tomorrow. With his 49ers playing Monday Night Football two days after BYU-Notre Dame, Warner would theoretically have time for a trip to Provo to appear on “GameDay.”
Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge speaks during an end-of-season press conference at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Danny Ainge: In addition to his status as a household name in the basketball world, Ainge owns an iconic game-winner against Notre Dame in the 1981 NCAA Tournament. Perhaps inviting him as a guest picker would provide some luck for BYU against the Irish.
Former BYU running back Jamaal Williams lets out a yell during Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” show at Brigham Young University in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Jamaal Williams: There’s never a dull moment with Williams, BYU’s all-time leading rusher who became a fan favorite in the NFL for his various viral antics. If ESPN wants the most possible laughter on Saturday morning, he’s the perfect choice.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Kyle Van Noy (17) leaves the field following a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. | Peter Joneleit
Kyle Van Noy: His Minnesota Vikings have a bye this weekend, freeing up the newly-minted BYU Hall of Famer to return to campus. Van Noy is already a frequent guest on Pat McAfee’s show, and that preexisting chemistry could be a boon for “GameDay.”
Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa poses for a photo during the NBA basketball team’s media day, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Washington. | Nick Wass
AJ Dybantsa: Considering he’s yet to play a regular-season game in the NBA, it may be too early for Dybantsa to get the “GameDay” treatment; however, it wouldn’t hurt BYU to flex its first-ever No. 1 NBA draft pick to the world again.
Entertainers with BYU ties
Donny Osmond is photographed inside Harrah’s Showroom prior to his show at Harrah’s Las Vegas on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Donny Osmond: The entertainment legend, Latter-day Saint and longtime Provo resident has sold more than 100 million albums across the past six decades, and his Vegas showmanship would undoubtedly bring some flair to “GameDay.” Truthfully, Osmond is the only non-sports figure who could appear on the show with similar clout to Coach Edwards.
Ken Jennings is the host of the 2026 "Jeopardy!" Masters tournament. | Christopher Willard
Ken Jennings: Before he was a prolific “Jeopardy!” contestant and the show’s current host, Jennings was a brilliant BYU student. Given his track record, he would probably break the “GameDay” record for most accurate game predictions.
Keynote speaker Luke Nichols, JD ’09, founder of the Outdoor Boys channel on YouTube, speaks as part of the Antonin Scalia Law School commencement ceremony, held at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. | The Den Photography
Luke Nichols: Nearly 4 billion people have watched Nichols’ “Outdoor Boys” YouTube videos, where he and his sons documented their adventures camping, hunting and fishing in the Alaskan wilderness and beyond. He may have recently stepped away from the YouTube spotlight, but the BYU graduate and Latter-day Saint making a surprise “GameDay” appearance would be a thrill for his millions of fans worldwide.
U.S. actor Aaron Eckhart arrives at the European Premiere of The Dark Knight, in central London, Monday July 21, 2008. | Joel Ryan
Aaron Eckhart: The BYU alum and former Helaman Halls resident is best known for his role as Harvey Dent in “The Dark Knight” — he’s automatically a Cougars legend for starring in one of the greatest movies of all-time. You won’t cast a more charismatic choice for the “GameDay” desk than Eckhart.
Rylee Arnold arrives at ABC’s End of Summer Soirée on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at Cecconi’s West Hollywood in West Hollywood, Calif. | Jordan Strauss
Rylee Arnold: If “GameDay” wants to cast a wider net than its typical audience, look no further than Rylee Arnold and her 1.5 million Instagram followers. The “Dancing with the Stars” pro is a prominent Latter-day Saint — and her boyfriend, Walker Lyons, is BYU’s starting tight end.
Dave Portnoy is photographed with Cosmo the Cougar during Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” show at Brigham Young University in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Dave Portnoy: If everyone else is unavailable, why not call “Provo Dave?” The Barstool Sports founder became the Cougars’ most vocal — and surprising — supporter last season <a href="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/10/20/dave-por
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