Jason Sudeikis brought a personal connection to ESPN College GameDay on Saturday, joining the broadcast as its celebrity guest picker ahead of Notre Dame’s home matchup against Miami.
The actor and comedian appeared at Library Lawn in South Bend. Known for playing Ted Lasso and his time on “Saturday Night Live,” Sudeikis drew on his family’s Notre Dame ties when making his selection.
College GameDay shared the moment Saturday on X, formerly Twitter, capturing his prediction for the matchup.
“Well, I have on good authority that little baby Jesus is being babysat tonight by my uncle George and by Coach Lou Holtz, and all three of them are guaranteeing a victory for the Irish, and so am I.”
Jason Sudeikis and the four horsemen are riding for Notre Dame 😂 pic.twitter.com/9Qg6eNl63b
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 7, 2026
The broadcast’s hosts dubbed the group “the four horsemen.”
Sudeikis’s connection to the university spans generations. His maternal grandfather graduated from Notre Dame, as did his Uncle Jim, a member of the class of 1975.
His late uncle George Wendt, who played Norm on “Cheers,” attended before dropping out after his junior year. Wendt died in May 2025.
Article Continues BelowSudeikis also attended a Notre Dame basketball camp in sixth grade and witnessed the Irish’s October 15, 1988, game against Miami from the stands. That matchup later became the subject of an ESPN “30 for 30” documentary.
He found support for Saturday’s pick across the panel. Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, and Kirk Herbstreit selected Notre Dame, while Desmond Howard chose Miami.
The Hurricanes and Irish hold the No. 1 and No. 11 spots, respectively, in the season’s first College Football Playoff rankings.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock, with Notre Dame seeking an upset that would strengthen its playoff resume.