Johnny Knoxville tried to bribe referee ahead of Tennessee-Texas game

Johnny Knoxville was the celebrity guest picker on ESPN's College GameDay in Week 4. Knoxville, who is from Knoxville, showed up in full pads and a Tennessee Volunteers uniform for the game against the No. 1 Texas Longhorns . He then tackled an ESPN employee and tried to bribe a referee.

Knoxville spoke with ESPN's Jess Sims before he went on stage to make his picks. During the interview he joked about getting a tattoo and also attempted to slip one of the officials a $20 bill. The referee did a tremendous job not reacting. The way money has been flying around in Knoxville on Saturday morning, it's kind of surprising he didn't just take it. Who doesn't need $20?

pic.twitter.com/zGfH5yAH98 — no context college football (@nocontextcfb) September 26, 2026

no context college football (@nocontextcfb) September 26, 2026

Johnny Knoxville is all for the Tennessee Volunteers pic.twitter.com/ukVNQMfeVe — World Sports Network (@WSNsports) September 26, 2026

Johnny Knoxville is all for the Tennessee Volunteers pic.twitter.com/ukVNQMfeVe

World Sports Network (@WSNsports) September 26, 2026

Here is video of him tackling what seems to be an ESPN employee. Or at least selling it really well. That's the magic of television.

Johnny Knoxville really tackled admin in full pads 😭 Tune into @CollegeGameDay to catch his picks 🍿 pic.twitter.com/PTpn84zlKg — ESPN (@espn) September 26, 2026

Johnny Knoxville really tackled admin in full pads 😭 Tune into @CollegeGameDay to catch his picks 🍿 pic.twitter.com/PTpn84zlKg

Knoxville also had the line of the day while picking the Missouri-Mississippi State game. He said he was so sure of his pick that "if Missouri loses I will punish myself by listening to Pat McAfee's new album on repeat until Halloween." What a painful stunt that would be.

All in all, it was a tremendous performance from Knoxville who, like McAfee, ultimately picked Tennessee to upset Texas.