Actor and stunt performer Johnny Knoxville will serve as ESPN’s College GameDay guest picker Saturday when the Tennessee Volunteers host the top-ranked Texas Longhorns at Neyland Stadium.
Knoxville, a Knoxville native and longtime Tennessee fan, was announced as the guest picker during Thursday’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show ahead of Saturday’s SEC matchup.
"I bleed orange!!"
Johnny Knoxville had to show off his Vol fandom 😂
(via @patmcafeeshow) pic.twitter.com/ZN14TMvIQ4
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 24, 2026
“This is one of the best calls I’ve ever gotten in my life from you…I bleed orange,” Knoxville told McAfee of being chosen as Saturday’s guest picker, while proceeding to take off four layers of Tennessee orange T-shirts, revealing what he said would be a soon-to-be Vols-inspired tattoo on his chest.
“I’m rather excited to be the guest picker this weekend,” Knoxville added.
ESPN’s College GameDay will originate from the lawn of Ayres Hall on the University of Tennessee campus from 9 to 11 a.m. ET Saturday before moving inside Neyland Stadium for the final hour leading up to kickoff.
Rece Davis will host the program alongside analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and former Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Pete Thamel, “Stanford Steve” Coughlin, Jen Lada ,and Jess Sims will also participate.
President Donald Trump is also expected to attend Saturday’s Tennessee-Texas game.
The university has warned fans to expect increased security measures, additional checkpoints and longer wait times around Neyland Stadium.
All stadium gates will open at 9 a.m., and ticketed attendees are strongly encouraged to arrive significantly earlier than usual. Enhanced security screening will be conducted by Secret Service Police at all gates.
The Vols enter Saturday’s game 3-0 after wins over Furman, Georgia Tech, and Kennesaw State. Texas is ranked No. 1 entering the matchup.
Tennessee and Texas have met three times previously, with Texas holding a 2-1 advantage. The Longhorns won the most recent meeting, 36-13, in the 1969 Cotton Bowl. Saturday’s game will mark the first regular-season meeting between the programs.
Neyland Stadium is sold out for the 30th consecutive game.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Image “Johnny Knoxville” by Jackass the Podcast.
