Predicting every ESPN College GameDay location for 2017
Week 4: Sept. 23
Candidates
- Washington at Colorado
- UCLA at Stanford
- Penn State at Iowa
- Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Arlington, TX)
- TCU at Oklahoma State
- Notre Dame at Michigan State
- Eastern Washington at Montana
Like most weeks, the Sept. 23 College GameDay location will likely be determined by whichever matchup means the most to the conference and national championship races. Conference play begins in full force in late September, and important matchups can be found in nearly every league in Week 4.
As Pac-12 play heats up, Washington at Colorado and UCLA at Stanford are the best games on the docket. GameDay traveled to Boulder twice in 1995 and once in 1996, but hasn’t been back since. The Buffs aren’t likely to win 10 games like they did in 2016, but Colorado should be 3-0 and possibly ranked when the Huskies come to town.
Iowa City, AT&T Stadium in Arlington and Stillwater could also host, though Oklahoma State has a couple of better options later in the season, which ESPN may opt to wait for. Also, while both programs struggled last season, the Notre Dame-Michigan State game is always a GameDay candidate, and if both programs start hot, it’s a possibility as well.
Perhaps our first real opportunity for an outside-the-box location is Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana — home of the Griz. Despite being one of the most storied FCS programs in history, led by Bob Stitt, who is one of football’s brightest minds, plus one of its most passionate fanbases and top stadium atmospheres in college football’s second level, Montana has yet to be featured on College GameDay.
A home date against a perennial playoff team and Big Sky Conference rival and national title contender Eastern Washington would be the perfect opportunity to do it. But, there is actually another Griz game that could be a better fit for GameDay later in the season.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Washington at Colorado