By Salma El-Sakka
Emmy-winning actor Jason Sudeikis, best known for playing the optimistic soccer coach in Apple TV+'s "Ted Lasso," will serve as the celebrity guest picker on ESPN's College GameDay for Saturday's matchup between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Miami Hurricanes.
Family Ties to Notre Dame
Sudeikis, 51, has deep family connections to the Indiana university. His grandfather and uncle are Notre Dame graduates, and the first college football game he ever attended was the 1988 "Catholics vs. Convicts" classic between Notre Dame and Miami. "With deep family roots right here at Notre Dame, having him on campus feels like home," the Fighting Irish athletics account posted on X. Sudeikis told host Pat McAfee that he grew up loving Notre Dame football and will relive his childhood at Saturday's game.
Sports Fan and Ted Lasso Future
A regular at New York Liberty, Kansas men's basketball, and Iowa women's basketball games, Sudeikis will join the GameDay analysts to make predictions ahead of the contest, where 11th-ranked Notre Dame could shake up the standings with a win over top-ranked Miami. The appearance comes after the surprise fourth season of "Ted Lasso" concluded last month. Sudeikis has said he is open to a fifth and sixth season, though Apple has not officially renewed the series.
