College GameDay is in Norman, Oklahoma this week for the Sooners hosting Tennessee in the first big SEC matchup of the season. With the SEC currently featuring six of the top seven teams in the nation according to the latest AP Poll, there will be monster clashes all throughout the season. There are also other big matchups in other conferences coming up as well. With that being said, I decided to take a look at where I think College GameDay will go over the next four weeks.
Obviously, this requires a bit of projection as most of these teams have games between now and then. If a team loses a game they should not, then that would change things.
Week 5 (September 28th)
Alabama vs Georgia
This is the most obvious choice of the season so far. It is a heavyweight clash of the SEC's top two programs since 2017. This matchup is guaranteed to be a top-four clash and as close to guaranteed as possible to be the GameDay pick with neither team facing a potential stumbling block this weekend (with each team on their bye week this week and Georgia currently being #2 nationally and Alabama coming in at #4 in the latest AP Poll). There are a ton of great storylines in the game as well:
*Kalen DeBoer's first ranked matchup at Alabama.
*The first Alabama-Georgia matchup post-Saban.
*Jalen Milroe vs Carson Beck Heisman discussion
*First of several hostile road trips for Georgia
*Plus, it's just Alabama vs Georgia. Simple as that.
This game is a rematch of last year's SEC Championship, a rematch of the 2021 National Championship game, and is just the third regular season matchup between the two juggernauts since 2010.
Both teams are 3-0, and the winner of this game will have an early heads-up when it comes to a trip to Atlanta and seeding-wise for the playoffs (although playoff expansion has robbed us of how much this game could have truly meant with the loser now still easily in the playoff discussion. But I digress).
Week 6 (October 5th)
California vs Miami (FL)
Now we are getting the games that cause a little bit of projection. With Alabama and Georgia on bye's, there is nothing standing in the way of that matchup. However, from here on out there is at least some that are up in the air. This choice also provides a bit of history. California has never hosted College GameDay and they are one of six power four teams to have never hosted.
Miami looks like the class of the ACC so far, and quarterback Cam Ward is right in the thick of Heisman Trophy discussions. Miami's next two games are winnable, although tricky, against South Florida and Virginia Tech.
Meanwhile, Cal is one of the surprise up-start teams of the season. An impressive road victory over Auburn put Cal on the map this season, and they have a massive road-trip to Tallahassee to play Florida State this weekend. If Cal wins that game, they could be on the verge of being ranked.
Without there being a ton of marquee matchups on the slate, College GameDay might take the opportunity to go somewhere they have never been in Berkeley. GameDay has not been to a Cal game in general since they went to Cal @ Utah in 2015.
Week 7 (October 12th)
Oregon vs Ohio State
While Oregon has not been as impressive early in the season as expected, there's a good chance that this game features 5-0 Ohio State traveling to Eugene for the first time as conference-foes to take on 5-0 Oregon in a top 10 clash.
Both teams have winnable games between now and then (UCLA and Michigan State for Oregon and then Marshall, Michigan State, and Iowa for Ohio State). I will take my chances on both teams being 5-0 heading into this monster clash.
The other option for this week is the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma. That game still being an option hinges on Oklahoma beating Tennessee in this week's GameDay game. If one of Ohio State or Oregon slips up, then Texas-Oklahoma could be the backup option.
Another logic behind GameDay going to Texas-Oklahoma would be that Big Noon Kickoff will presumably be in Eugene for this game and they might want to go somewhere else. Although, GameDay could be holding off on going to a Texas game for one more week...
Week 8 (October 19th)
Texas vs Georgia
This one was truly the toughest for me to pick, because there is another marque SEC game this week featuring current top 10 rivals in Tennessee hosting Alabama. Plus, there is so much to happen between now and then involving these four teams. Tennessee and Texas both play Oklahoma between now and then as well.
Personally, I think that both Texas and Tennessee will still be unbeaten heading into Week eight. While Georgia vs Alabama is a toss-up to me, I think there is a chance that GameDay still goes to Texas-Georgia even if Georgia loses next week.
The reason being is that this is Georgia's first trip to Austin as conference-mates, plus will be Texas' first major home game as an SEC team. And I think that gives them the edge to host GameDay, even if Alabama beats Georgia.