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“College Gameday” had a bit of a Johnny Football snafu Saturday. 

ESPN announced Texas A&M legend Johnny Manziel as the guest picker in a since-deleted tweet in the lead-up to the Aggies’ College Football Playoff game against the Miami Hurricanes in College Station.

Only one problem: The Heisman-winning quarterback wasn’t on the set when the show went live ahead of seventh-seeded Texas A&M’s disappointing 10-3 loss to 10th-seeded Miami. 


  Johnny Manziel in 2013 with Texas A&M. USA Today Sports Johnny Manziel in 2013 with Texas A&M. USA Today Sports

Instead, “Gameday” featured another former Aggie, NBAer Alex Caruso of the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Caruso played four seasons in College Station, making the All-SEC first team during his senior season in 2015-16.

But given the stakes of the game, Manziel appeared to be the most natural pick to fill the seat. 

The World Wide Leader has yet to say why Manziel wasn’t on-screen for college football fans ahead of the big matchup. 

Manziel, who played two seasons at Texas A&M before being drafted No. 22 overall in 2012 by the Browns, was in attendance during the Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua boxing match Friday night in Miami.


  Johnny Manziel was in Miami on Friday night for the Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua boxing match.
 Johnny Manziel was in Miami on Friday night for the Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua boxing match.

He posted a photo of his view a few rows back from the ring and also re-shared a video of him in attendance at the Kaseya Center on his Instagram Stories.

Before Friday’s fight, Manziel posted about being the celebrity picker on Bleacher Report’s show as well.


  Johnny Manziel appeared ready to be on “College Gameday” and Bleacher Report ahead of Saturday’s Texas A&M-Miami College Football Playoff game as the celebrity guest picker. Johnny Manziel/Instagram Johnny Manziel appeared ready to be on “College Gameday” and Bleacher Report ahead of Saturday’s Texas A&M-Miami College Football Playoff game as the celebrity guest picker. Johnny Manziel/Instagram

Saturday’s game was one of the biggest in Aggies history, marking the first time Texas A&M ever played in the College Football Playoff.

Quarterback Marcel Reed threw an interception with less than 20 seconds left while facing a third-and-goal at the Miami five-yard line.

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