College GameDay – ESPN’s signature pregame show on Saturdays in the fall – has visited a whole bunch of campuses since 1993. It’s been to big games, like LSU versus Alabama, awesome campuses in the Group of Five like Appalachian State, iconic HBCU venues like Jackson State, and historic rivalries like Army-Navy.
In 2023, GameDay went to Duke for the first time. While the basketball version of GameDay has been to Cameron Indoor Stadium dozens of times, the football show had never broadcast from campus ahead of a football game at Wallace Wade Stadium. That changed when a ranked Duke team hosted Notre Dame.
Another ACC school is joining the GameDay club this season. Kirk Herbstreit, Nick Saban and the gang will be at Cal when the Golden Bears host No. 8 Miami for a 10:30 p.m. ET Week 6 clash.
But there are still six Power Four (read: ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12) schools that have never hosted GameDay.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 30: Head coach Mike Locksley of the Maryland Terrapins looks on after defeating the North Carolina State Wolfpack 16-12 during the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 30, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Despite being ranked as high as sixth in the AP Top 25 Poll during he Ralph Friedgen era – and winning six games or more six times during his tenure – GameDay never visited the Terps during the 2000s, and the show certainly didn’t stop in during the 2010s as Maryland struggled under the reins of Randy Edsall, DJ Durkin and Matt Canada.
The Terps have posted two consecutive eight-win seasons under Mike Locksley in 2022 and 2023. Perhaps there will be an opportunity soon for College Park to finally host GameDay.
Aug 29, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) carries the ball against the Howard Bison during the first half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
It’s kind of hard to believe that GameDay didn’t visit Rutgers during its impressive 11-2 campaign in 2006. The Scarlet Knights were ranked for the majority of the year and even hosted a ranked-versus-ranked matchup on Nov. 9 against then-No. 3 Louisville. The problem was, that game was scheduled for a Thursday night.
Rutgers had its first winning season since 2014 in 2023. If the Scarlet Knights keep trending in the right direction, ESPN could visit sooner rather than later.
Aug 31, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers running back Xavier Brown (20) carries the ball past Richmond Spiders linebacker Carter Glassmyer (10) during the first half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
The time GameDay should’ve visited Charlottesville was in 2004, when the Cavaliers went 8-4 under Al Groh and were ranked all season – as high as No. 6. Virginia even hosted a ranked Miami team that season, a 10-versus-18 matchup. Alas, GameDay hasn’t been to UVA.
Sep 20, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord (6) drops back to pass against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
Since GameDay started traveling to campuses in 1993, Syracuse has never been a national championship contender, but they haven’t been consistently dreadful either. The Orange are usually right in the middle of the pack. They’ve had two 10-win seasons since 2000 and have gone bowling five times since 2010.
And considering Syracuse plays in a truly unique college football venue – the Carrier Dome – it’s a bit surprising GameDay hasn’t highlighted it.
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini argues a call during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on November 18, 2023 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
The facts are tough: Illinois just hasn’t been all that relevant in college football since GameDay launched. Since 1993, Illinois has just four seasons since it finished with eight or more wins, and three seasons that it finished the year ranked in the AP Poll. Illinois also hasn’t won a bowl game since 2011.
However, Illinois is off to a 4-1 start this season and is still ranked in the AP Poll at No. 24 after a tough loss at Penn State. Like Cal, their GameDay drought may be ending soon. On Oct. 19, Illinois hosts Michigan, which could be an enticing enough matchup to draw ESPN.
DALLAS, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 28: Kevin Jennings #7 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs warms up before the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
The Mustangs are new to the list in 2024 because, well, before this season they weren’t in a Power conference. SMU has played in front of GameDay before, albeit at venues that weren’t in Dallas. In 2019, No. 15 SMU lost at No. 24 Memphis when the Tigers hosted the ESPN crew, and in 2011 the Mustangs got stomped when No. 10 hosted the show.
As a Power 4 program, SMU is off to a 4-1 start in the ACC.
