Where will ESPN College GameDay take its college football pregame show in 2017? We predict the locations week by week.
It’s difficult to remember when College GameDay didn’t mark the start of college football Saturday. The morning pregame show now hits the road every week of the season, and hosting ESPN’s cast of characters adds to the game day atmosphere of the schools and stadiums holding the week’s biggest games.
Though it was originally a full-time studio show, College GameDay made its first trip to a college campus in 1993 to get a closer look at the clash between No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Notre Dame in South Bend. The national championship implications of the game set the precedent for GameDay to travel to basically every Game of the Century (of the week) thereafter.
In 1994, the show expanded to six episodes on the road, each of which featured a matchup between ranked teams — none ranked lower than No. 13 in the AP Top 25 on the day when the game was played. Over the years, the production grew to include an on-site game every week during the regular season, as well as bowl games with national championship implications, and eventually conference title games and the College Football Playoff.
The most common weekly site is still a matchup between ranked teams with championship implications, and focusing on those games is key when attempting to predict the 2017 schedule. However, GameDay has gone outside the box to highlight special rivalries and venue along the way.
In 2001, GameDay broadcast from the United States Air Force Academy where the Falcons hosted Army. The game was held on Nov. 3 — less than two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It was the first time the show was held at the site of a game featuring two unranked teams.
The second occurred the following year in Philadelphia, where two FCS programs from the Ivy League — Harvard and Penn — met. GameDay has travelled to West Point, to the annual Bayou Classic between Grambling and Southern in New Orleans in 2005 (the year Hurricane Katrina devastated the city), and has been on hand for historic rivalries such as Division III Amherst-Williams, and made special appearances at Hampton-Florida A&M, at Wrigley Field, on the USS San Diego, on the streets of Fargo, North Dakota and a wide range of venues across the country.
As we predict the location for every ESPN College GameDay show for the 2017 college football season, we weigh the importance of a heavyweight matchup with the possibility for an experience unique to the show — and make the case for a few out-of-the-box sites.
Week 1: Sept. 2
Florida State vs. Alabama (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA)
College football kicks off with five FBS matchups on Saturday, August 26, but the on-location episodes of ESPN College GameDay begin the following weekend.
The decision has already been made for GameDay to debut in Atlanta for the Florida State-Alabama game, and for good reason. The Crimson Tide and Seminoles are both likely to be ranked in the top 5 of the preseason polls, and possibly top 3 along with Ohio State. Though on-campus games make for better atmospheres overall, a huge non-conference matchup featuring College Football Playoff contenders is perfect for Week 1.
Furthermore, ESPN has a history of broadcasting from neutral site games on the first Saturday of the season and did so from the Georgia Dome three straight years from 2008-10. Of course, the FSU-Bama matchup is slated to kickoff at the new home of the Atlanta Falcons, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which adds another level of intrigue.
Just for fun, note that ESPN passed on the other big non-conference neutral site heavyweight fight, Michigan and Florida playing at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. And, if the crew were willing to do two (or three) shows in a weekend, Texas A&M at UCLA and West Virginia versus Virginia Tech (in Washington D.C.) both kick off Sunday, followed by Tennessee-Georgia Tech also from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Labor Day Monday.
Week 2: Sept. 9
Candidates
- Oklahoma at Ohio State
- Auburn at Clemson
- Georgia at Notre Dame
- Stanford at USC
The site for Week 2 of College GameDay is still up for grabs, and though there’s not a Battle in Bristol-type no-brainer on the schedule this year, there is no shortage of great games to choose from.
The defending national champion Clemson Tigers host Auburn in a Top 25 matchup worthy of the attention ESPN brings on Saturday mornings. Stanford travels to Los Angeles for a rare early season conference battle with the USC Trojans in a potential preview of the Pac-12 Championship Game. TCU at Arkansas, Pitt at Penn State, Nebraska at Oregon and Utah at BYU would normally be under consideration to host the show, but the competition is fierce because of two major non-conference clashes between college football bluebloods.
Notre Dame has hosted College GameDay eight times, which ranks among the top 10 schools in the program’s history. However, the show hasn’t been to South Bend since 2012. Coming off a 4-8 season, it seems unlikely the Fighting Irish would find themselves on the shortlist for Week 2, but a rare matchup with a SEC power, Georgia, makes it an intriguing option.
However, the biggest non-conference matchup of Week 2 is expected to be Oklahoma at Ohio State. The Buckeyes have hosted GameDay 16 times, which is tied with Alabama for most overall. An early season trip to Columbus featuring a Top 10 matchup, and potentially a No. 1 ranked Ohio State team, makes the most sense and it would be pretty surprising for any other game to get the nod.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Oklahoma at Ohio State
Week 3: Sept. 16
Candidates
- Texas at USC
- Miami at Florida State
- Oklahoma State at Pitt
- Clemson at Louisville
- Tennessee at Florida
By Week 3, won-loss records begin to impact which games are worthy of consideration to host College GameDay. Fortunately, ESPN has plenty of options to choose from when looking for a marquee matchup of undefeated teams.
A loss to Alabama in the season opener would take a little of the shine off of a Miami-Florida State rivalry game in ESPN’s eyes, but if the Seminoles win in Week 1, there’s a great chance GameDay could be headed to Tallahassee.
However, the safer bet is Texas’ trip to USC. If the Trojans survive their Week 2 matchup with Stanford and the Longhorns take care of business against Maryland and San Jose State in Tom Herman’s first two games in charge, there’s a great chance ESPN opts for a trip to the Coliseum. Choosing USC would allow the show to get an up-close-and-personal look at Trojans QB Sam Darnold and company, as well as a chance to dive into Herman’s decision to leave Houston for Texas.
But, there’s a distinct possibility each of those first two candidates features at least one team with a loss, and GameDay doesn’t usually go for teams with .500 records. In that case, Clemson at Louisville (if the Tigers get by Auburn in Week 1) would take the road show to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium for the second straight season.
Other options include an underrated non-conference matchup between Oklahoma State and Pitt (should the Panthers upset Penn State in their previous contest) and the always-intriguing Tennessee-Florida rivalry game in Gainesville. GameDay hasn’t been to The Swamp since 2012, and if the Gators beat Michigan and the Vols get past Georgia Tech in Week 1, an undefeated Top 25 matchup is possible.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Texas at USC
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
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
Week 6: Oct. 7
Candidates
- Ole Miss at Auburn
- LSU at Florida
- Kansas State at Texas
- Notre Dame at North Carolina
- Michigan State at Michigan
- Air Force at Navy
The first weekend in October has a similar feel to Week 5. There are several games with the potential to be big-time matchups, though, in the preseason, few have the look of a national showcase game.
But, looking back at our predictions through September, ESPN doesn’t appear likely to visit a SEC stadium through the first four weeks of 2017. That likely increases the odds GameDay visits Gainesville for the first time since 2012.
Florida has an opportunity to win the SEC East for the third straight season, and if the Gators were 5-0 on Oct. 7 (a tall task given games against Michigan and Tennessee, as well as a pesky trip to Kentucky), they would undoubtedly host LSU as a top-10 team. The Tigers should be 5-0, and would probably be ranked in the Top 5. Even in Florida has one loss, this game is still the one to beat, and though it’s possible some of the others on the schedule could pit two higher ranked teams.
Auburn also fits as an SEC site, and though Ole Miss is ineligible for a bowl, quarterback Shea Patterson is one of the most talented players in the league, which should make the Rebels interesting. Of course, if Texas starts strong, a trip to Austin would make sense for GameDay as well.
As for an out of the box option, despite including Navy in two previous off-campus GameDays, the show has never been to Annapolis — home of the United States Naval Academy. The leg of the Commander-in-Chief battle between the Midshipmen and Air Force would be a great backdrop for ESPN in Week 6.
College GameDay Location Prediction: LSU at Florida
Week 7: Oct. 14
Candidates
- Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas, TX)
- Utah at USC
- Oregon at Stanford
- Arkansas at Alabama
- Texas A&M at Florida
- Auburn at LSU
- Ohio State at Nebraska
- Boise State at San Diego State
Odds are the destination for Week 7’s College GameDay will be determined the old-fashioned way: which matchup pits the two highest ranked teams?
It’s hard to believe that ESPN hasn’t traveled to the Cotton Bowl for the Red River Rivalry game between Oklahoma and Texas since 2011, and the first glance of the Oct. 14 schedule gives the rivalry between the Sooners and Longhorns the best chance of being the featured game of the week. With young, new head coaches Lincoln Riley and Tom Herman at the helm in Norman and Austin, respectively, leading the rivalry into a new era, there’s enough intrigue surrounding the matchup to make it the early favorite to host GameDay.
However, since Texas has gone through some rough years recently along with the shakeup at Oklahoma, it’s possible the best matchup of the week will occur far away from the Texas State Fair. Conference matchups cover much of the rest of the weekly schedule, including SEC showdowns between Arkansas and Alabama, Texas A&M at Florida, and the battle between the Tigers of Auburn and LSU in Baton Rouge.
In the Pac-12, Oregon at Stanford is a game usually worthy of national attention, and Utah’s trip to USC pits two of the South Division’s best against one another at the Coliseum. Ohio State has a tricky road game at Nebraska, and if the Cornhuskers get off to a hot start, putting GameDay back in Lincoln would be fun. Also, if it were held on a less competitive weekend, Boise State’s trip to San Diego State – a possible Top 25 matchup – would be a nice pick.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas, TX)
Week 8: Oct. 21
Candidates
- Michigan at Penn State
- Louisville at Florida State
- Tennessee at Alabama
- LSU at Ole Miss
- Oklahoma at Kansas State
- Oklahoma State at Texas
- USC at Notre Dame
- Wyoming at Boise State
Like Week 7, options are abound for the Oct. 21 edition of College GameDay. The early leader is Michigan-Penn State in State College — always a wonderful place to host GameDay. However, looking ahead to Oct. 28, the ESPN crew may opt to wait to feature the Nittany Lions, since Penn State travels to Ohio State the following week.
In that case, Louisville at Florida State, Tennessee at Alabama, LSU at Ole Miss, Oklahoma State at Texas and USC at Notre Dame are all on the schedule, and would all be perfect matchups for GameDay. Surely there is a game among them that will feature two teams in the playoff race.
The best bet is Louisville at Florida State, which not only features 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson but has a revenge storyline built in after the Cardinals beat the Noles 63-20 at home last year.
But, if none of those options produces Top 10 or Top 20 matchup, there is an outside chance the ESPN road show could travel to Boise State for the first time since 2010. In addition to Wyoming and the Broncos playing in what could be a Top 25 clash (if Wyoming upsets either Iowa and Oregon in non-conference play), there may also be a changing of the guard on display. The Cowboys are a team on the rise in the Mountain West, and could dethrone Boise State as the heavyweight team in both the conference and the Group of Five.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Louisville at Florida State
Week 9: Oct. 28
Candidates
- Penn State at Ohio State
- Georgia vs. Florida (Jacksonville, FL)
- Georgia Tech at Clemson
- Miami at North Carolina
- San Diego State at Hawaii
Today, the Oct. 28 contest between playoff contenders Ohio State and Penn State looks like the de facto Big Ten Eastern Division championship game, which makes the matchup between the two teams in Columbus one of the biggest of the season. Therefore, despite a likely early season visit to Columbus, it would be an easy choice for Week 9 of College GameDay. Of course, should the teams fail to live up to their end of the bargain and disappoint through the first two months of the season, other options exist.
The ESPN road show first traveled to the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in 1999 and has traveled to the Georgia-Florida (or Florida-Georgia depending on your allegiance) game three times — but not since 2005. With the SEC East likely hanging in the balance and the possibility of a Top 20 matchup in Jacksonville, ESPN may opt to head to the Cocktail Party once again. A pair of important ACC games is also on the slate: Georgia Tech at Clemson and Miami at North Carolina, both of which could have division title implications.
Thinking far outside the box, it’s possible the team at ESPN might prefer a Pacific Ocean paradise. The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors made a surprising run to a bowl game in 2016 and talented quarterback Dru Brown is among eight returning starters on offense. San Diego State has been a regular in the AP Top 25, so it should be a good matchup at Aloha Stadium, in addition to a new and unique site for the show.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Penn State at Ohio State
Week 10: Nov. 4
Candidates
- Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
- LSU at Alabama
- Virginia Tech at Miami
- Ohio State at Iowa
- Texas at TCU
- Harvard at Columbia
- North Dakota State at South Dakota State
Despite the loss of head coach Bob Stoops, Oklahoma is the Big 12 favorite and a College Football Playoff contender. Oklahoma State, led by longtime head coach Mike Gundy and one of the top quarterback-receiver duos in the nation in Mason Rudolph and James Washington, could be the top conference challenger to the Sooners.
Add the rivalry aspect, and it’s a perfect recipe for a College GameDay game, especially if both teams are ranked, as they should be. There’s even an outside chance both teams could be ranked in the top 10 or possibly undefeated which would make it one of the easiest decisions of the season.
Of course, the same can be said of LSU’s visit to Tuscaloosa. The Tigers are as talented as any team in the nation and Alabama is always a threat to win it all. A top-10 or top-five matchup is always a possibility. And, if either of those premiere rivalries fails to produce a mega matchup, Virginia Tech-Miami and Ohio State-Iowa are also on the slate.
It’s very unlikely GameDay would pass on the trio of LSU-Alabama, Bedlam, and Virginia Tech-Miami, but ESPN has made curious decisions before and there are a couple of FCS games that would provide a fun show during the No. 4 weekend. Columbia plays in one of the most beautiful settings in college football at Wien Stadium, which overlooks the Hudson and Harlem Rivers in Manhattan. Also, North Dakota State at South Dakota State (ranked No. 1 and No. 3 by Athlon Sports in the preseason) would also be an option should the show prefer a battle of perennial FCS playoff teams.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
Week 11: Nov. 11
Candidates
- Georgia at Auburn
- Florida State at Clemson
- Michigan State at Ohio State
- Notre Dame at Miami
- TCU at Oklahoma
- Boise State at Colorado State
- Wyoming at Air Force
It’s impossible to predict whether or not a Top 10 matchup will be available for College GameDay on Nov. 11, but the best possible options for a marquee contest at this point appear to be the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, in which Auburn hosts Georgia and Florida State’s trip to Clemson.
Neither Auburn or the Bulldogs enter the 2017 campaign as national championship favorites but given their talented rosters and manageable schedules, it would be unwise to count either out. Clemson lost a lot, but this is the best opportunity to send GameDay to Death Valley.
A few other options include a rebuilding Michigan State squad playing Ohio State in Columbus, and if the Spartans bounce back after a dreadful 2016 season, there’s the potential the game could play a key role in the Big Ten East race. Elsewhere, Big 12 favorite Oklahoma is slated to face one of its toughest conference opponents in TCU, and Notre Dame’s trip to Miami is certain to pique the interest of fans nostalgic for the days in which the Irish and Hurricanes ruled the college football landscape.
If none of those feature a pair of Top 25 squads, the week of Nov. 11 could also be a perfect opportunity to highlight one of two pivotal Mountain West matchups. The Air Force Academy is a uniquely beautiful college football host, and with top pro quarterback prospect Josh Allen behind center, Wyoming could travel to Colorado Springs in a position to play in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Boise State, of course, is always in the fight for that spot, and Colorado State is a program on the rise, which makes the game between the Broncos and Rams a similarly interesting option.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Florida State at Clemson
Week 12: Nov. 18
Candidates
- UCLA at USC
- Nebraska at Penn State
- LSU at Tennessee
- Texas at West Virginia
- Michigan at Wisconsin
- Montana at Montana State
- Alcorn State at Jackson State
- North Dakota State at Illinois State
The penultimate regular season weekend of the 2017 college football season has several intriguing games for ESPN to choose from. The biggest rivalry game on the slate, UCLA at USC, could have Pac-12 title implications, and multiple Big Ten matchups could have an impact on the College Football Playoff race, including Nebraska at Penn State and Michigan at Wisconsin. LSU makes a rare trip to Tennessee and West Virginia hosts Texas in a pair of games that could garner national attention if the teams involved overachieving through the first 10 weeks of the season.
Simply, there are several great FBS options for the Nov. 18 episode, but it may also be a great week to step outside the box and take in a pivotal FCS matchup in a unique location. After all, GameDay traveled to Harvard for The Game between the Crimson and Yale during this week in 2014. Among the most interesting FCS options available, Alcorn State and Jackson State are scheduled to meet in a heated HBCU Magnolia State rivalry game, and North Dakota State (a GameDay favorite) at Illinois State could be a good matchup.
However, one of the country’s greatest FCS rivalries — Montana and Montana State, also known as Cat-Griz and Brawl of the Wild — is on the schedule and would be a terrific option for GameDay. Bozeman, Montana is one of the most beautiful cities in the nation, and though Bobcat Stadium isn’t as big as Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, the rivalry is worthy of GameDay. We’ll take a risk and pick Cat-Griz as GameDay’s out-of-the-box location for 2017.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Montana at Montana State
Week 13: Nov. 25
Candidates
- Washington State at Washington
- Notre Dame at Stanford
- Alabama at Auburn
- Florida State at Florida
- Ohio State at Michigan
This one comes down to which of the major rivalries has the most at stake in terms of playoff implications. Columbus, Ohio hosted GameDay last season when No. 3 Michigan traveled for its clash against No. 2 Ohio State, and if the Buckeyes are ranked in the top three again, there’s a good chance the show will head to Ann Arbor.
However, Michigan lost a ton of talent from its 2016 roster and could be in a rebuilding mode in 2017, which opens the door for the Iron Bowl. Alabama will certainly be ranked in the top three of the preseason AP Poll, and as the favorite in the SEC, the Crimson Tide appear headed for another College Football Playoff appearance. With Auburn seen as a possible Top 10 team, the Tigers could host the show for the first time since 2013 (Tuscaloosa hosted the show in 2014, which was the last Iron Bowl to be prominently featured). If Alabama-Auburn gets the nod this year, it would be the seventh time the South’s most heated rivalry was given center stage.
But there is at least one other option. If Florida State is in a position to play for a national championship, and if the Florida Gators have wrapped up their third consecutive SEC East title and are ranked in the Top 15 or so (both a distinct possibility despite Georgia entering the season as the favorite in the division), the Sunshine Showdown could be the choice for the first time since 2009. If GameDay goes to Auburn in Week 11, Florida’s odds go up.
College GameDay Location Prediction: Alabama at Auburn
Championship Week: Dec. 2
Candidates
- SEC Championship Game (Atlanta, GA)
- Big 10 Championship Game (Indianapolis, IN)
- Big 12 Championship Game (Arlington, TX)
- ACC Championship Game (Charlotte, NC)
College GameDay first traveled to a conference title game in 2000, when No. 1 Oklahoma beat No. 8 Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game in Kansas City to secure a spot in the Orange Bowl with the BCS National Championship on the line. GameDay didn’t go to a SEC Championship Game until 2003 but has been to six since. However, the last three times the ESPN show traveled for a conference championship game, the Big Ten has gotten the nod.
With the Big 12 bringing its league title game out of retirement, all three conferences will have an opportunity to host in 2017, as will the ACC, which has never hosted College GameDay. The Pac-12 is scheduled to hold its game Friday night, and therefore won’t be in the running.
Choosing which location ESPN picks for College GameDay this far out is difficult, and will assuredly rely on which game has the biggest impact on the playoff. A top-10 Georgia or Florida playing a Top 5 Alabama would be a tough combo to beat, as would a top-10 Wisconsin against a top-5 Ohio State or Penn State. Right now, it’s difficult to envision the Big 12 or ACC putting a better matchup on display.
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College GameDay Location Prediction: SEC Championship Game (Atlanta, GA)
Also, GameDay has broadcasted from the Army-Navy Game in each of the past three seasons (which will be held in the week after the championship games), as well as at least one bowl/playoff game in addition to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Odds are we’ll see a similar schedule again after the 2017 regular season.