Jess Sims went to a small school for college, and while she played basketball, the new member of ESPN’s College GameDay said she always wanted to be a part of a big football school. Starting this season, she’ll get that experience each week on the popular pregame show.

Sims recently discussed her new opportunity.

“I don’t even know where to begin, to be honest,” Sims said on Sirius XM. “Life happens as it’s moving forward, but it only makes sense looking backwards. Even with the whole interview process and talking with the team at ESPN, it’s been a dream come true and something that I kind of manifested in so many different ways.”

Sims said she wanted to be part of something bigger than herself and that’s why she’s always loved team sports.

“Long story short, to get this role is mind blowing,” she said. “It is an opportunity of a lifetime just to join the cast of incredible, incredible people that are already on the team that have made the last 35 season such a success.”

Sims came to ESPN after she was a Peloton instructor and the former basketball player at Trinity College in Conn. previously worked with the WNBA’s New York Liberty as an in-arena host in 2021, and, most recently, as a reporter.