This year will be a special one for Olivia Dunne. Not only does Livvy have the chance to defend the NCAA title for the first time in LSU’s history, but she will also have never-before opportunities in other aspects. As the LSU Tigers hosts the Alabama Crimson Tide on November 9 for Week 11’s biggest college football extravaganza, Dunne and her boyfriend Paul Skenes will have a unique responsibility—Dunne and Skenes will be ESPN College GameDay’s first pair of guest pickers for the 2024 season—and she’s leaving no stone unturned to execute her task with flying colors.

The news was first reported by On3’s Pete Nakos, with the gymnast confirming the same, writing, “Can’t wait!!! Let’s geaux,” on November 7. And now the 22-year-old has given a hilarious sneak peek into her preparations…

In her Instagram post from November 9, Olivia Dunne shared how she’s gearing up for the upcoming ESPN College GameDay show. Captioned, “I’m just a girl,” the social media update showed the celebrity gymnast frantically taking notes to get herself updated with the rules of the game. For the unversed, the GameDay pickers get to join the show’s hosts to predict the winners of a game.

However, it does look like Livvy is under some pressure, as her prowess is mostly limited to gymnastics. The caption in the accompanying video read, “Me studying football so I don’t embarrass myself on college game day,” and Dunne’s facial expression captured how hard she’s working to ensure she doesn’t make a fool out of herself on national TV. At one point, she pointed the camera toward her laptop, revealing she’s taking notes from old games.

Notably, LSU will be looking to change their fortunes after a 38-23 loss against the Texas A&M this week. Currently, both teams are on a 6-2 record, with the Crimson Tide at the No. 11 spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings and the Tigers at No. 15.

As for Dunne and Skenes, LSU is their alma mater, so it’s no wild guess who they’ll choose as the winner. Skenes even led the LSU to the 2023 College World Series Title, before being selected as a No. 1 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft. While the exact details of his contract stay elusive, Skenes reported received a record $9.2 million signing bonus. In his first season with the team, the 22-year-old went 11-3 in 23 starts with a 1.96 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 170 strikeouts, setting a new team record for strikeouts in a single season by a rookie. He is also just the fifth rookie ever to be named a starting pitcher in the MLB All-Star Game.

Having said that, beyond the weekend, Olivia will once again go back to her gymnastics duties to warm up for the upcoming NCAA season. Dunne will have one last ride with the Tigers along with her phenomenal teammates, including Haleigh Bryant, among others. But right now, she seems to be determined to do her best as the guest picker this Saturday. Fret not; this wouldn’t be the first time she went out of her comfort zone to learn something new.

Olivia Dunne is not shy to learn new things

Dunne and Skenes are one of the most popular collegiate athlete couples in the country. While the LSU star’s accolades as a gymnast have made her a national sensation, Skenes’ stint as a Pennsylvania rookie has turned a lot of heads as well. Naturally, Dunne has made her best efforts to appreciate her boyfriend’s sport and his skills as a pitcher.

Even when she’s busy with her own schedule, Dunne tries to make sure she doesn’t miss out on any of Skenes’ games to extend her support and cheer from afar. That’s not all. Last year, Dunne also brought out her inner NASCAR fan to the fore with a social media post from the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee. Her presence increased the oomph quotient at the event significantly and NASCAR fans couldn’t stop gushing.

In terms of her own final year with the Tigers, Olivia will look to make it a memorable one. Right now, she’s one of the most valuable collegiate stars in the US and boasts a staggering $4 million valuation. Her towering social media presence makes her a lucrative target for brands to gain more traction, and Dunne seldom lets the opportunities slide. What new heights do you want to see Livvy reach in the coming years? Tell us in the comment section below!