Manziel misses College GameDay after Miami fight; Alex Caruso fills in as guest picker

Johnny Manziel was replaced as the guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay from Texas on Saturday, a day after he was seen at Jake Paul’s boxing showdown with Anthony Joshua in Miami. Moments before the Texas A&M–based program began, host Rece Davis announced that former Texas A&M basketball star and two-time NBA champion Alex Caruso would fill in for Manziel, who had been billed as the guest picker for the Aggies’ playoff game against the Miami Hurricanes. No official reason was provided for the no-show, and ESPN declined to comment.

Manziel’s absence comes on the heels of his presence at the Kaseya Center in Miami for the Paul–Joshua fight, a bout that Joshua won by knockout after six rounds. The event ended around midnight ET, leaving only a narrow window for Manziel to travel from Miami back to College Station in time for a 9 a.m. start of College GameDay. The tight turnaround underscored the logistical challenges of cross-country appearances for a show that blends campus reporting with celebrity appearances.

The scheduling conflict also affected Bleacher Report’s pregame coverage. The outlet had promoted Manziel for its Kyle Field campus pregame show at 10 a.m., but he did not appear there either, despite sharing a post from Bleacher Report on Instagram promoting the appearance. Caruso’s substitution was announced without further elaboration, and the network did not provide additional commentary.

Manziel, 33, rose to prominence as Texas A&M’s quarterback and a Heisman Trophy winner before being selected by the Cleveland Browns in 2014. His NFL career was derailed by a series of off-field issues and other controversies, leading to his release by the Browns at the end of the 2016 season. In August 2023, Manziel publicly discussed a suicide attempt as part of a Netflix series about his life. Since then, he has pursued business ventures and podcasting, often reflecting on his past while promoting personal growth and accountability.

The decision to replace Manziel on College GameDay adds to a pattern of high-profile guest picks attracting attention when schedule realities clash with other commitments. Manziel previously appeared as a College GameDay guest picker for Texas A&M’s season opener against Notre Dame in August 2024, marking one of several post-College Football Playoff era appearances that the program has leaned on to connect with fans and alumni across the country. While he has spoken openly about his journey since college, the latest development underscores the logistical and branding challenges that come with these crossover appearances in college football’s high-profile weekends.

Beyond the headlines, Manziel’s career arc has evolved considerably since his days on the Aggies’ field. The former Heisman Trophy winner has built a post-NFL career as a business owner and podcast host, using his public profile to discuss resilience and growth. His absence from College GameDay will be noted by viewers and will likely prompt questions about the scheduling and coordination of this weekend’s events, though ESPN has not provided further updates.

Alex Caruso, who stepped in to fill the guest picker role, is a former Texas A&M basketball player and a two-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. His addition to the GameDay lineup marks a return to the school where he starred in college, and his appearance aligns with the show’s tradition of featuring notable alumni across sports. Caruso’s participation will be broadcast alongside the program’s campus reporting and analysis as the college football season moves deeper into its postseason phase.