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Predicting every ESPN College GameDay location for 2017

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; ESPN College Gameday hosts from left Desmond Howard and Rece Davis and Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit discuss the days matchups on their set outside Ohio Stadium before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; ESPN College Gameday hosts from left Desmond Howard and Rece Davis and Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit discuss the days matchups on their set outside Ohio Stadium before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 24, 2015; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies players run onto the field prior to their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Lane Stadium. The Blue Devils won 45-43 in quadruple overtime. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2015; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies players run onto the field prior to their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Lane Stadium. The Blue Devils won 45-43 in quadruple overtime. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Week 5: Sept. 30

Candidates

  • Clemson at Virginia Tech
  • Georgia at Tennessee
  • Ole Miss at Alabama
  • Mississippi State at Auburn
  • Northwestern at Wisconsin
  • Baylor at Kansas State
  • Colorado at UCLA
  • Ohio State at Rutgers

The final Saturday in September has several big conference games, though none has the look of a Top 10 matchup today.

Our best chances for a battle of Top 25 teams are Georgia at Tennessee and Clemson at Virginia Tech. However, the Vols have two tough road games in the first four weeks, and may not be ranked if they lose to either Georgia Tech or Florida. That leaves Clemson — the defending national champions — and Virginia Tech, who should be no worse than 3-1 through their first four games. ESPN loves Blacksburg (GameDay has visited six times to date), and Enter Sandman.

Elsewhere, Ole Miss’ trip to Alabama may be the best opportunity for GameDay to head to Tuscaloosa in 2017. It would be trip No. 17 for the show, which would tie Columbus again, assuming GameDay chooses Oklahoma at Ohio State in Week 2.

Speaking of the Buckeyes, a surprising game on the list is Ohio State’s trip to Rutgers. There is a chance the Buckeyes will be the No. 1 ranked team in the nation in Week 5, and though little is expected from the Scarlet Knights, Rutgers holds a special place in college football history. In 1869, a group of students from what is now called Princeton University traveled across the state to take on students from Rutgers in what is believed to be the first intercollegiate football game.

It makes sense for GameDay to eventually travel to the birthplace of college football, and if the nation’s top-ranked team is in town, there’s a distinct possibility.

College GameDay Location Prediction: Clemson at Virginia Tech

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