Rece Davis Throws Shade At Johnny Manziel Amid 'College GameDay' Controversy

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Rece Davis Throws Shade At Johnny Manziel Amid 'College GameDay' Controversy

College GameDay was forced to call an audible on their guest picker last week as Texas A&M legend Johnny Manziel had to bow out at the last second. ESPN's Rece Davis took it in stride, but still threw a bit of shade at him over the incident.

GameDay had to bring in Oklahoma City Thunder star and Texas A&M alum Alex Caruso at the last minute to replace Manziel after the former Heisman winner called in sick.

Appearing on the College GameDay Podcast this week, Davis seemed skeptical of Manziel's story that a "sudden illness" kept Manziel from attending. Manziel had attended the big Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul boxing match the night before.

“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. “Because it can leave you ill and give you difficulty in reaching the locales where you are scheduled to be. But I digress.”

“I just wondered, is that what the kids are calling it these days? A bad breakfast? Anyway, wouldn’t cast aspersions anywhere. For those who follow closely, you’ll be able to read between the lines there. You have to follow a little closely."

"No surprise"

Given Manziel's well-documented history of substance abuse among other things, football fans quickly speculated that Manziel had an issue relating to drugs or alcohol that kept him from being a part of College GameDay.

"Maybe don't book somebody like him in the first place? Why do we reward somebody with a history of questionable behavior?" one user wrote on X.

"Man surprised immature kid does immature thing. More to come lol," wrote another.

"He was drinking, Rece," a third said bluntly.

"Extremely on brand."

"You have to be dumb to book this guy as reliable."

SOUTH BEND, IN – DECEMBER 20: ESPN broadcaster Rece Davis is on the set for the ESPN College Gameday show before the Indiana Hoosiers play against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 20, 2024, during the CFP First Round playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

At the end of the day it's not the end of the world. It may not make Manziel welcome in as many ESPN circles, but that wasn't exactly an everyday thing even before this incident.

Will Manziel face more subtle consequences for being a no-show to College GameDay?

This story was originally published by The Spun on Dec 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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