Johnny Manziel is making headlines again, but this time it's not about his football career. Instead, it's about his absence from ESPN's College GameDay and the subsequent buzz it created. In a recent statement, the former Texas A&M quarterback addressed the situation, setting the record straight with ESPN and Pat McAfee. But what exactly happened, and why is this news still relevant? Let's dive in.
Nearly two weeks after missing the College GameDay show, Manziel took to social media to clarify his position. The message was clear: he's on good terms with ESPN and Pat McAfee. This comes after his unexpected absence from the show, which was supposed to feature him as a guest picker for the Aggies' game against Miami.
Filling in for Manziel was Alex Caruso, an Oklahoma City Thunder guard and former Texas A&M basketball player. While Manziel didn't explicitly state the reason for his absence, he did mention a "fake narrative" in an earlier apology. But here's where it gets controversial...
In a post on X, dated December 30th, Manziel, also known as "Johnny Football," emphasized his positive relationship with ESPN and McAfee. He even added a fun twist, suggesting fans could bet on his return to the show via Kalshi.
"There's been plenty of speculation lately," Manziel wrote. "I'm good with ESPN. I'm good with McAfee. If you want to keep guessing, you can now do it officially. Thanks to Kalshi, you can trade on whether I’ll be back on College GameDay in 2026. The market currently gives me a 34% chance of being back on set next season. If you think that number’s low, take the other side."
He concluded with a message to Aggie fans, expressing optimism for the future of Texas A&M football and wishing everyone a Happy New Year.
ESPN initially announced Manziel as the guest picker for the College GameDay show. The show kicked off in Norman, featuring Brian Bosworth as the celebrity guest picker.
And this is the part most people miss... After Manziel's absence, College GameDay host Rece Davis seemed to allude to the situation, referencing Manziel's attendance at the Jake Paul–Anthony Joshua fight the night before and hinting at a "bad breakfast" the next morning.
"When you go to a fight like that, you’ve got to be very careful about where you eat breakfast the next morning," Davis said on the College GameDay Podcast. "Because it can leave you ill and give you difficulty in reaching the locals where you are scheduled to be."
So, what do you think? Was Rece Davis's comment a fair assessment, or was it an unnecessary jab? Do you believe Manziel's explanation, or is there more to the story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
