Tennessee football will be front and center for the college football world this week.
The No. 14 Vols (3-0) are hosting ESPN's "College GameDay" ahead of their SEC opener against No. 1 Texas (3-0) at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 26 (noon ET, ABC). The show is expected to be broadcast from Ayres Hall beginning at 9 a.m. and will likely move inside the stadium at 11 a.m.
Here are nine options to be the guest "College GameDay" picker for Tennessee's game against Texas:
Peyton Manning
Tennessee football great Peyton Manning is not only an obvious choice for the matchup, it also might be ESPN's dream to make Manning pick between the Vols and his nephew, Texas quarterback Arch Manning, on live television.
Peyton Manning has been diplomatic about the matchup so far. He said
in June he pulls for his alma mater unconditionally, but nothing is more important than family. He was the guest picker on "College GameDay" in 2022 when Tennessee beat Alabama, but appearing on the show ahead of Tennessee-Texas might be the last thing he'd do.
Candace Parker
Candace Parker is a legend in women's basketball and a beloved figure in Knoxville. She was the superstar who led the Lady Vols to their last national championships in 2007 and 2008, and she was inducted to both the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this summer. Parker was the guest picker last year, but who says she can't run it back?
Kelsea Ballerini
Country music star and Knoxville native Kelsea Ballerini would be a popular pick. She isn't on tour right now and is a beloved celebrity in her hometown. When her 2023 tour made a stop at Food City Center, she sold out the show in less than an hour.
Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen is another popular country music star from Knoxville that would be a hit with Vols fans. Wallen recently gave back to Gibbs High School, where he graduated from in 2011, donating $1.2 million to upgrade the baseball facility. His song "The Way I Talk" was also Tennessee's fourth-quarter song during the 2024 and 2025 football seasons.
Leanne Morgan
Leanne Morgan is a comedian and actress from Adams, Tennessee. She graduated from Tennessee and recently won an Emmy for her self-titled Netflix sitcom "Leanne," which ran for two seasons. Morgan is on tour with stops across Tennessee, and she'll have two shows at Food City Center on Dec. 12 and 13.
Dalton Knecht
Dalton Knecht is one of the most beloved Vols in recent memory after having one of the best seasons in Tennessee basketball history in 2023-24. Knecht has played for the Los Angeles Lakers the last two seasons.
Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris is an NBA veteran who played for the Vols in 2010-11. He recently signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs after spending the last two seasons in Detroit, where he played a key role in the Pistons winning their first playoff series in 18 years last season.
Chamique Holdsclaw
Chamique Holdsclaw is Tennessee's all-time leading scorer for men's and women's basketball, and she led the Lady Vols to three straight national championships from 1996-98. Holdsclaw was inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August and joined USA Network's WNBA broadcast team this summer.
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney is a country music star from Knoxville, and he has been a guest picker in the past. Chesney appeared on the show in September 2012 at Tennessee and again at South Carolina in September 2014.
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Nine options for guest picker on 'College GameDay' for Tennessee football vs Texas
