When it came time to look for the right person to be _College GameDay’s_ guest picker this weekend, they didn’t have to look very far.
ESPN’s college football pregame show is heading to Salt Lake City for the Big 12 showdown between the No. 24 Utah Utes (6-2) and No. 17 Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1). Joining Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, and Kirk Herbstreit as this weekend’s guest picker will be former Utah quarterback and current ESPN NFL analyst Alex Smith.
> Alex Smith knows a thing or two about Utah football 🏈
>
> The Utes’ legend will be back on campus as this weekend’s guest picker 👏 [pic.twitter.com/EYDnAE87An](https://t.co/EYDnAE87An)
>
> — College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) [October 30, 2025](https://twitter.com/CollegeGameDay/status/1983972177683636316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Smith joined ESPN in 2021 as an NFL analyst and has been a regular analyst on _Sunday NFL Countdown_ crew since 2023, also appearing on select editions of _Monday Night Countdown_ and _Postseason NFL Countdown._
Before embarking on a 16-year NFL career between the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Commanders, Smith played quarterback for the Utes. He was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2004 and led Utah to a victory in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.
Saturday’s game has significant implications for both schools as they attempt to keep pace with the undefeated BYU Cougars and jockey for position against Texas Tech (7-1) and Houston (7-1).