ESPN College Football Podcast Hosts Rece Davis and Pete Thamel Clash on the Big Ten Race

Pete Thamel has Oregon as his number two seed in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. Rece Davis has Ohio State. The two got together to talk about it on the ESPN College Football Podcast on Wednesday.

Davis, Sports Center anchor and host of ESPN's College GameDay show, went with the Buckeyes, citing their elite talent throughout the roster.

He said, “I’m going Ohio State because I think they have the best roster, both sides, top to bottom, maybe even better than Georgia, at least more proven than Georgia and more depth,” Davis said, when explaining why the Buckeyes will earn the second seed in the 12-team field. “They spent a lot of money in the transfer portal. They’ve got two great running backs. My question about Ohio State is quarterback.

“Will Howard was a sensational player at Kansas State, and around him they’ve got a lot of young talent that hasn’t played a lot. I need to see a little bit. Now, I think I’m going to see enough, and I think that their roster’s talented enough that they’re going to win the Big Ten.”

Thamel disagreed, citing the Ducks apparent edge at quarterback. He told Dan Morrison of On3 Sports:

“I picked Oregon to win the Big Ten. That is rooted, in part…I feel like where they are strongest is where I have questions about Ohio State. So, I certainly agree. I think Ohio State will have the most players invited to the combine this year. I feel like it’s going to be a Michigan-ish amount, like 18 last year. Six or seven guys on their roster at this time last year we just assumed were going pro. So, it’s a very rare confluence of talent…That said, the Ducks have a quarterback who is proven, proven, and proven, and they have a better offensive line.”