ESPN College GameDay announces Marshawn Lynch as Week 6 Celebrity Guest Picker

With ESPN’s College GameDay coming to Berkeley for the Cal–Miami game, there was really only one man for the job of celebrity guest picker: Former Golden Bears running back Marshawn Lynch.

The show announced Lynch, who gained notoriety during his playing career for his unvarnished personality and love of Skittles candy, among other things, will join the crew to make picks. It’s unclear if he’ll ride a golf cart to the stage, in a reprise of his most infamous, viral moment at Cal.

In the announcement video shared on social media, ESPN’s editors got creative, taking the clip of Lynch’s cart joyride and ending it with him parking at an edited-in sign, “College GameDay guest picker parking only.”

There is only one man for the job …

MARSHAWN LYNCH is our guest picker this Saturday for @CalFootball's first EVER GameDay! 🐐 pic.twitter.com/Lxycfuk7YG

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 3, 2024

The GameDay crew should be in to see some highly talented players on Saturday from Miami. While the Hurricanes are currently undefeated they certainly showed some legitimate signs of weakness against Virginia Tech. Quarterback Cam Ward was touted as a Heisman favorite leading into that game, and while he did look incredible at times against VT, he also showed some very real weaknesses.

So far, he’s completed 70.2% of his passes for 1,782 yards, while tossing in 18 touchdowns with four interceptions. As a runner, he has 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Miami also has a number of dynamic tailbacks, senior Damien Martinez and and freshman speedster Jordan Lyle, who already has over 230 yards and three touchdowns. The Hurricanes are also loaded at wideout and tight end. They feature a number of players who are quite dynamic: Xavier Restrepo, Elijah Arroyo, Jacolby George, and Sam Brown are just a few.

The Cal Golden Bears will clearly have their hands full, but they’ve certainly got weapons of their own on offense. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza — a Miami native — has completed 67.5% of his passes for 892 yards, while tossing in five touchdowns and two interceptions. One problem for the Golden Bears has been protecting him. They’ve allowed 16 sacks so far this year.

Speedster Jaydn Ott is one of the nation’s most dynamic all-purpose running backs/receivers. He is must-see-TV every time he touches the rock. The Golden Bears will need to get him going in order to have a chance against the ‘Canes high-powered attack.

Cal and Miami are set for Saturday, October 5th. Kick time is set for 10:30 PM EST. And the game will be nationally televised on ESPN.