ESPN College Gameday first aired in 1987 from the ESPN studio in Bristol, Connecticut. Over the past 38 years, it has grown into one of the most popular pregame shows in all of sports, and by far the most popular in college football.
Which ESPN analysts will be on ESPN College Gameday in 2024?
The 2024 rendition will feature Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pac McAfee, Lee Corso and new addition Nick Saban. The group will travel to College Station, Texas for the Texas A&M versus Notre Dame matchup in week one, and be in Dublin, Ireland for week zero between Florida State and Georgia Tech.
Beyond that as it is every year, the location largely depends on what leads up to be the most premier game heading into the following week. Therefore, ESPN typically does not reveal their location until Saturday evening the week before.
Here is where you may expect ESPN College GameDay to be each week in 2024
Week 2: Michigan vs. Texas (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
While NC State and Tennessee are the other assumed premier matchup as of right now, the game is being played at a neutral site in Charlotte, North Carolina. Therefore, it makes too much sense that College GameDay would travel to Michigan for the showdown between the defending national Champion Michigan Wolverines and the Texas Longhorns.
Not only are these two historic programs, but they are also two teams that were in the 2023 College Football Playoff. Many storylines make this intriguing as well with Michigan’s coaching transition from Jim Harbaugh to Sherrone Moore, and the Longhorns’ return of starting quarterback Quinn Ewers. Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian looks to make it two seasons in a row in Austin with double digit wins, and this would be a giant step towards that.
Week 3: Kentucky vs. Georgia (Lexington, Kentucky)
With both teams 2-0 presumably heading into the contest and the gametime announced as 7:30 PM ET on ABC, this is an intriguing matchup that could see the GameDay crew take it to Lexington. Expect a predominantly blue scene as big blue nation will come out in full force to support the Wildcats who look to be the surprise team of the SEC in 2024 .
Week 4: Oklahoma State vs. Utah (Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Expect a week four Big 12 showdown between these two conference foes. The Paddle People of Oklahoma State will be out in force for this early season contest which features two returning starting quarterbacks in Alex Bowman of Oklahoma State and Cam Rising of Utah.
Both teams are towards the top of the projected Big 12 standings this season, which means this is a game that could have playoff implications.
Week 5: Alabama vs. Georgia (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
While the Auburn Tigers have been starving for the return of College GameDay and could have a big showdown against the Oklahoma Sooners, there is zero doubt that the GameDay crew will be in Tuscaloosa for this seemingly annual showdown between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs.
It will have a different look this time around as the two are meeting in the regular season instead of the College Football Playoffs or SEC Championship Game. Alabama will also have a new head coach in Kalen DeBoer patrolling the sideline as Nick Saban retired this past offseason. Nonetheless, expect the atmosphere and intensity to be felt in the air. This GameDay will be epic.
Week 6: Georgia vs. Auburn (Athens, Georgia)
Well, it won’t be on the Plains, but Auburn will be part of this GameDay experience that will happen in Athens, Georgia in week six as they travel to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. Expect both teams to be in the playoff picture still at this point. And both have a good chance of being undefeated heading into the matchup.
Week 7: Oregon vs. Ohio State (Eugene, Oregon)
What would a college football season be without a trip to Eugene to see “The Oregon Duck?” The motorcycle it rides is sure to be intact and the atmosphere will be electric. Although the local time will be 6 AM PT, the Duck faithful will be out in force. The game is being hyped as a potential preclude to the Big 10 title game as the Ducks and Buckeyes are two of the favorites to win the Big 10 in 2024.
Week 8: Tennessee vs. Alabama (Knoxville, Tennessee)
Week eight has some big time matchups, but expect the Vol faithful to be rewarded this one with the rival Crimson Tide coming into town. The last time the Tide traveled to Knoxville, they walked out with a 52-49 loss in one of the greatest games in college football history. One of the last times GameDay was in Knoxville, Pat McAfee jumped in the Tennessee river. Something will happen this year- it is just a question of what.
Week 9: Kansas State vs. Kansas (Manhattan, Kansas)
The “Sunflower Showdown” will be as intense as ever in 2024 with both programs in a great place heading into the season in the Big 12. Expect that to still be the case heading into week nine when these two square off in what could be a pivotal game towards deciding the Big 12 title.
Week 10: Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech (Syracuse, New York)
This one may surprise you considering Ohio State travels to Penn State and Oregon travels to Michigan this week. However, expect the ACC to be a conference on the rise in 2024 and these two teams to be a big reason for it. GameDay has never been to Syracuse, and this could be quite the ACC showdown between a Syracuse team which features new head coach Fran Brown and a Virginia Tech program heading into a promising third season under head coach Brent Pry.
The Hokies have the most returning production in the country, and the Orange appear to be rowing in a much better direction that years past with Brown at the helm. Surprising but good records could be there for each of these clubs heading into week 10 which makes a new and different location like Syracuse a possibility.
Week 11: Ole Miss vs. Georgia (Oxford, Mississippi)
Little argument here should come from anyone across all of the college football. The Grove is a spectacle paralleled by few, and with what is anticipated to be a top 10 matchup by many in week 11, it only makes sense for GameDay to travel to Oxford as they take on Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs.
When GameDay comes to the grove, everyone wins. Hotty Toddy.
Week 12: Yale vs. Princeton (New Haven, CT)
Known as “The Game” this FCS contest featuring two historic Ivy League programs could serve as the location for week 12. In years past, GameDay has been known to travel to an FCS school location one week each season. With somewhat of a presumed lull in premier matchups at the FBS level, this could be the perfect week and rivalry for it.
Yale and Princeton have been meeting on the gridiron since 1875. Yale leads the rivalry 80-55-10, but as with any rivalry you can throw the records out the window.
Week 13: Rutgers vs. Illinois (Piscataway, New Jersey)
I know- Rutgers right? The Scarlet Knights are in their second stint with head coach Greg Schiano who again is turning around the program. Schiano is heading into his fifth season in his current tenure with the Scarlet Knights and has improved his record each year. The Scarlet Knights return running back Kyle Monangai who will be one of the leaders to the club having a great record at this point of the season.
On the other side, Bret Bielema heads into his fourth season as head coach of the Illini and returns starting quarterback Luke Altmyer. The two clubs will be the surprise teams in the Big 10 this season, and if that indeed happens this could be a neat location for GameDay.
Week 14: Texas A&M vs. Texas (College Station, Texas)
The return of the “Lonestar Showdown” will not disappoint and has been highly hyped leading up to the 2024 season. The last time these two in-state rivals played was 2011 before the Aggies departed the Big 12 for the SEC. Fast forward to 2024 and now the Longhorns have joined them. Juice is already heating up surrounding this rivalry per comments from Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman, and do not expect the momentum and hype to slow down.