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ESPN Announces Surprising College Gameday picker for Florida at Miami

Two-time Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Champion Matthew Tkachuk is the guest picker on ESPN College Gameday on Saturday for Florida at Miami.
ByAlan Rubenstein|
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) hoist the Stanley Cup after game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) hoist the Stanley Cup after game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

ESPN College Gameday announced on Thursday afternoon that two-time Stanley Cup Champion Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers will be their guest picker on Saturday for Florida at Miami. Tkachuk has played for the Panthers since 2022.

Tkachuk is the first NHL player to be the ESPN College Gameday celebrity guest picker. Alex Rodriguez was the celebrity guest picker in 2017 when ESPN College Gameday was last in Coral Gables ahead of the 41-8 Miami win over Notre Dame.

Tkachuk told Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald via Grant Grubbs of On3 that he has become more interested in college football since moving to South Florida. Tkachuk also stated he initially became interested in college football via visiting a friend at Mississippi.

ESPN College Gameday will emanate from the Lakeside Patio at the University of Miami from 9 AM to noon Eastern Daylight Time on ESPN, ESPNU and Disney+. Tkachuk will be on in the 10 to 15 minutes of ESPN College Gameday when celebrity guest pickers and the panel pick the marque games each week.

ESPN College Gameday closed an iconic chapter in week one when 90-year-old Lee Corso, the last original member when the show began airing, retired. retired. Corso is an alum of Miami Jackson High School and Florida State. Corso contributed more to ESPN Gameday reaching iconic status than anyone.

ESPN College Gameday did not have a celebrity guest picker in week one. The show was live from Columbus for Texas at Ohio State. The first time Corso donned a mascot's head or attire was also at Ohio State. Atlanta Hawks' guard Trae Young at Oklahoma and retired WNBA legend Candace Parker at Tennessee were the other 2025 celebrity guest pickers.

Corso picked Miami to beat Notre Dame in week one as one of the final six games he predicted during his final appearance on ESPN College Gameday. Miami beat Notre Dame 27-24. Tkachuk will make his selections on Saturday with Desmond Howard, Nick Saban and Pat McAfee. Kirk Herbstreit will not make a prediction on Florida at Miami.

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