'College GameDay' tabs Cal legend as celebrity guest picker

Marshawn Lynch. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Watch: 'College GameDay' announces Cal legend as celebrity guest picker

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Oct 3, 2024 8:43 PM ET

ESPN "College GameDay" is going to be in Berkeley, Calif., this weekend to cover a marquee game between No. 8 Miami (5-0) and Cal (3-1).

It's a big-time ACC matchup (though it still feels bizarre to call Cal an ACC team) so it makes sense to bring in a big-time Cal alumnus to be the celebrity guest picker for the weekend.

Aaron Rodgers would've made sense for the pick, but he's still trying to round out his NFL playing days with the New York Jets. Tight end Tony Gonzalez, a 13-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the greatest tight ends of all time, would've been a great choice as well.

Frankly, though, first and foremost, "College GameDay" is about entertainment. So with that in mind, nobody makes more sense than former Cal Golden Bear running back Marshawn Lynch.

ESPN's media editors put together an incredible announcement video, taking Lynch's most famous moment at Cal and adding a slight twist:

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

Lynch became "Beast Mode" because of his time with the Seattle Seahawks, but he was still one heck of a runner in college. He was the 2006 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,356 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding four scores as a receiver.

The Buffalo Bills drafted Lynch 12th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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