or


[04/23/25 - 12:16 PM]
ESPN Signs "College GameDay" Host and Play-by-Play Voice Rece Davis to Multi-Year Contract Extension
One of the industry's most distinguished and respected voices, Davis will continue to anchor College Football Playoff studio coverage, ABC's annual NFL Draft presentation and ESPN shows at the NCAA Div. I Men's Final Four.
[via press release from ESPN]

ESPN Signs "College GameDay" Host and Play-by-Play Voice Rece Davis to Multi-Year Contract Extension

· Davis will continue to host ESPN's College GameDay football and men's basketball franchises; anchor College Football Playoff studio coverage, ABC's NFL Draft and ESPN shows at Men's Final Four; and call football and basketball games

· A 30-year employee, Davis continues with ESPN into a fourth decade

ESPN has signed Rece Davis to a multi-year contract extension, ensuring that the award-winning host will remain the face of the popular College GameDay football and men's basketball franchises. One of the industry's most distinguished and respected voices, Davis will continue to anchor College Football Playoff studio coverage, ABC's annual NFL Draft presentation and ESPN shows at the NCAA Div. I Men's Final Four. An experienced play-by-play voice, Davis will also call football and basketball games, among other responsibilities.

Davis celebrated 30 years at ESPN in March. This extension ensures that he will continue his leading role for the company well into a fourth decade.

"Rece is a trusted voice, a true professional and a tremendous teammate whose presence makes us better every day," said Burke Magnus, ESPN President, Content. "He's ingrained in the college sports landscape and we're proud to have him lead our GameDay team for years to come. One of Rece's many strengths is his versatility, and we look forward to having him contribute to a wide variety of marquee events as part of his new agreement with ESPN."

The Voice of GameDay

Davis has hosted College GameDay Built by The Home Depot since 2015. During that time, college football's premier pregame show has achieved unprecedented viewership success - including its three most-watched seasons - while capturing four Sports Emmys for Best Weekly Studio Show. Davis, who quarterbacks the live three-hour show each week in front of a live on-campus crowd, has been nominated for Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Host five times.

Davis has also hosted College GameDay Covered by State Farm, ESPN's long-running men's college basketball show, since its inception in 2005. This year, Davis and team celebrated the program's 21st season.

From August through April, Davis travels coast-to-coast for GameDay's football and basketball shows- and even overseas last season as part of a historic trip to Ireland in August 2024. In all, Davis visited 19 campuses for GameDay programs in 2024-25, playing a leading role in ESPN's coverage of some of the biggest sports events on the calendar.

"As the great Chris Berman texted me after hearing I would continue at ESPN, 'there's no place like home.' ESPN has been home for 30 years. Home isn't just a place you've been for a long time. ESPN is home because of the camaraderie, friendships and shared pursuit of excellence we enjoy on College GameDay and the other projects with which I'm involved," said Davis. "I'm blessed to work alongside a remarkably talented group of analysts, producers and behind the scenes technical and support teams that make the entire experience energizing and rewarding. There is little, if anything in television like the adrenaline rush that comes when the show is about to start. It's the best job in television and I'm thrilled to continue to serve as the host of College GameDay and College Football Playoff shows. I also look forward to embracing new challenges and roles as opportunities present themselves. I'm thankful to Jimmy Pitaro, Burke Magnus and Mike McQuade for the belief they've shown in me.

"None of this would work, or be worth it, without the love and unwavering support from my wife, Leigh, my son, Christopher and daughter Elizabeth. I'm filled with gratitude. Can't wait to be comin' to your city."

30 Years at ESPN

Now synonymous with College GameDay and ESPN's overall college football presentation, Davis has worked on a variety of sports properties throughout his 30 years with ESPN from motor sports as host of ESPN2's weekend RPM 2Night and Sunday morning RPM 2Day programs (1997-99) to ESPN2's NBA 2Night (1996-97), as well as major global football events, including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.

More on Davis

Davis, a native of Muscle Shoals, Ala., graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degrees from the school of communications in news and public affairs. He was inducted into Alabama's College of Communication and Information Sciences Hall of Fame in 2019 and named the School of Communication Broadcast Department's outstanding alumnus in 2001. CoSIDA (now College Sports Communicators) recognized him with the Lester Jordan Award (2019) and the Jake Wade Award (2016) for his contributions to intercollegiate athletics.

Prior to joining ESPN, Davis worked at WJRT-TV in Flint, Mich., following five years as a sports anchor and sports director at WRBL-TV in Columbus, Ga.

-30-





  [april 2025]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)




[05/20/26 - 12:02 PM]
"A Woman of Substance": Brenda Blethyn Limited Series Marks BritBox's Next Prestige Period Drama
Other June premieres include new seasons of "Beyond Paradise" and "Trigger Point."
[05/20/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: HBO Releases Official Trailer for Original Film "Miss You, Love You," Debuting May 29
A blunt, grieving widow, Diane Patterson (Allison Janney) is forced to plan her husband's funeral with a total stranger: her estranged son's assistant, Jamie Simms (Andrew Rannells).
[05/20/26 - 11:01 AM]
Great American Media Announces New Original, Unscripted Series, "Mark vs. The Mountain," Premiering June 11 on Great American Pure Flix
Meteorologist and former New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti, alongside his wife, interior designer, Krysty Ronchetti, star in the new unscripted series.
[05/20/26 - 11:00 AM]
FOX Entertainment Studios Strikes Multi-Year, First-Look Deal with Emmy Award-Winning Comedian, Actor and Producer JB Smoove
Under the partnership, Smoove will serve as executive producer and creative collaborator on an unscripted slate spanning a range of formats and genres.
[05/20/26 - 10:50 AM]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Emmy-Nominated Docuseries, "Raise The Flags", Makes Its Linear Premiere on NFL Network May 25-29
The series delivers a sweeping portrait of the Buccaneers organization - chronicling its rise from humble beginnings to championship glory in the most comprehensive account of franchise history ever produced.
[05/20/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Michael Jackson: The Verdict" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Told by key players who were inside the courtroom, this three-part comprehensive docuseries dissects the trial of Michael Jackson and his complex legacy.
[05/20/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: MGM+ Debuts Teaser for "The Westies"
The gritty and kinetic crime drama centers on New York City's infamously violent Irish gang of the same name.

[05/20/26 - 10:00 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights Two New Thrillers for This June
Amber Stevens West and Michael Xavier star in "The Jealous Bride" while Remy Ma leads "Don't Trust the Girls Upstairs."
[05/20/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer, Key Art and New Imagery for "Strung"
From director Malcolm D. Lee, a talented violinist takes a prestigious job as a music tutor for the gifted daughter of an influential and enigmatic family.
[05/20/26 - 09:31 AM]
Hit Drama Series "The Testaments" from Creator Bruce Miller and Starring Chase Infiniti, Renewed for a Second Season
Season one is now streaming with the season finale on Wednesday, May 27.
[05/20/26 - 09:01 AM]
A24's "Pillion" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max June 5
A timid man is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.
[05/20/26 - 09:01 AM]
AMC Global Media's June Highlights Include "The Vampire Lestat," "You're Killing Me," "Devil in Silver," "Doctor Who" and More
Newly announced premieres include ALLBLK's "Funny Thing About Love" and BBC America's "Wild Spring."
[05/20/26 - 09:00 AM]
The History Channel's Hit Survival Series "Alone" Is Going Global! New Season Premieres June 17
On the heels of the World Cup and for the first time in franchise history, 10 skilled survivalists from around the globe will compete in "Alone: World Championship".

[05/20/26 - 09:00 AM]
Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess to Host "The Tony Awards: Act One"
The two stage-and-screen icons will kick off Broadway's biggest night with the presentation of the first round of Tony Awards during the exciting pre-show telecast.
[05/20/26 - 07:36 AM]
After Record-Setting 2025 Season, "Sunday Night Football" Finishes Fall-Spring TV Season as Primetime's No. 1 Show for Unprecedented 15th Consecutive Year
The series averaged 23.5 million viewers in 2025, marking the show's best-ever viewership - up nearly 1 million viewers from the prior record for the series set a decade ago (22.6 million in 2015 season) and an increase of 9% over the '24 season (21.6 million).