Joe Namath selected as ESPN College GameDay guest picker for Alabama vs Texas

When ESPN College GameDay makes its picks for Week 2 of college football, there will be football royalty on the set. Joe Namath will be the celebrity guest picker ahead of Alabama vs. Texas, ESPN announced Thursday.

Namath is one of the best players in Alabama history and is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He played for the Crimson Tide from 1962-64 and had a 29-4 record during his time as the starter under the legendary Bear Bryant and helped win the 1964 national championship. The New York Jets then selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1965 AFL Draft, and the rest is history.

Namath will be among the big names in attendance for arguably the biggest game of Week 2. Both College GameDay and The Pat McAfee Show will broadcast from Tuscaloosa before Alabama and Texas will kick off at 7 p.m. ET.

Only right to have a Crimson Tide legend as this week's guest picker 🤩 #CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/Np8iCYnhey

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 7, 2023

Namath is one of the great quarterbacks in NFL history after the merger. He helped the Jets to a Super Bowl III title as part of his Hall of Fame career, which included three second team All-AFL selections and a Super Bowl MVP award in that victory over the Baltimore Colts.

After his retirement, the Jets retired Namath’s No. 12 and inducted him into their Ring of Honor. He was enshrined in Canton in 1985.

This won’t be Namath’s first time as College GameDay’s guest picker at his alma mater. He previously did the honors back in 2020 ahead of the Iron Bowl against Auburn, and he’ll be back outside Bryant Denny Stadium prior to one of the biggest games on the college football calendar.

Last year’s matchup between Alabama and Texas came down to a Will Reichard kick to send the Crimson Tide to a thrilling 20-19 victory in Austin. This season, the stakes are high once again as both teams rank in the top 12 of the AP Top 25 released earlier this week. Alabama came in at No. 3 while Texas checked in at No. 11 after both teams picked up victories in Week 1.

All eyes will be on the quarterback position with Quinn Ewers back as the Longhorns’ starter and as Jalen Milroe looks to build on a huge Week 1 performance in his first start. Both quarterbacks looked impressive — Ewers threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns against Rice while Milroe accounted for 194 passing yards, 48 rushing yards, three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores against Middle Tennessee State.

Their performances will be key as the future SEC foes square off in Tuscaloosa.