Predicting College GameDay's Location Week-By-Week for 2024

ESPN’s College GameDay premiered in 1993, appearing in South Bend ahead of a massive matchup between Notre Dame and Florida State. The flagship show has evolved into one of the most popular college football shows in the nation, becoming must-watch TV for college football fans each week.

The show appeared in Dublin, Ireland, last week as Georgia Tech stunned No. 10 Florida State in a Week 0 upset. The crew will be headed to College Station in Week 1 ahead of the huge out-of-conference matchup between Texas A&M and Notre Dame.

Where will the College GameDay crew be each week of the 2024 college football season? We predict where ESPN’s flagship show will be this upcoming season.

Week 2: Texas at Michigan

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

This may be the most anticipated out-of-conference game of the season, as the Longhorns will travel to Ann Arbor and face the defending national champions. Head coach Sherrone Moore has a chance to make a significant statement early in the season, while Texas aims to show the nation that the Longhorns are primed for another postseason run. This matchup also could impact seeding in the 12-team College Football Playoff as both teams are expected to compete for one of the top four seeds.

Other Potential Options: Tennessee vs NC State, Colorado at Nebraska

Week 3: Alabama at Wisconsin

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

It has been seven seasons since College GameDay appeared in Madison, Wisconsin. Plenty of storylines surround this game, including Alabama’s first significant out-of-conference game under head coach Kalen DeBoer. It has also been a while since we have seen Alabama play a notable out-of-conference opponent on the road. Head coach Luke Fickell will also have an opportunity to avenge his loss to the Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff at Cincinnati.

Other Potential Options: Oregon at Oregon State, Colorado at Colorado State

Week 4: Utah at Oklahoma State

Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma

This could be a preview of the Big 12 Championship game as both teams are projected favorites entering the 2024 season. The Cowboys are searching for back-to-back appearances in the conference title game, while Utah was voted the preseason favorite in the media poll. Running back Ollie Gordon returns after winning the Doak Walker Award, which gives this game the star power to capture the nation’s attention.

Other Potential Options: UCLA at LSU, NC State at Clemson, Tennessee at Oklahoma, USC at Michigan,

Week 5: Georgia at Alabama

Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Another easy pick for ESPN as Georgia and Alabama will meet in the regular season for the first time since 2020. Alabama is the only program to defeat the Bulldogs since 2020, including last season’s SEC Championship game, which extinguished Georgia’s College Football Playoff hopes. This game will also feature two of the best quarterbacks in college football as Carson Beck and Jalen Milroe both return after spectacular seasons in 2023. Head coach Kalen DeBoer will be in the spotlight as this should be his first game at Alabama against a Top 10 opponent. It could also serve as Nick Saban’s return to Tuscaloosa on College GameDay after announcing his retirement this spring.

Other Potential Options: Arizona at Utah, Oklahoma State at Kansas State

Week 6: Clemson at Florida State

Location: Tallahassee, Florida

Despite Florida State’s Week 0 loss against Georgia Tech, this game is still one of the biggest games in the ACC next season. The biggest storyline will be DJ Uiagalelei facing his former team for the first time after spending three seasons with the Tigers. After Florida State’s loss in Week 0, this could also serve as a must-win game if the Seminoles expect to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Other Potential Options: Missouri at Texas A&M, Michigan at Washington, Iowa at Ohio State, Auburn at Georgia

Week 7: Ohio State at Oregon

Location : Eugene, Oregon

Ohio State will make its first trip to Eugene since 1968 as these two programs will meet as conference foes for the first time. The Ducks stunned the Buckeyes in an upset win in Columbus in 2021. After an impressive offseason, head coach Ryan Day faces extreme pressure to win the national title this season. Transfer quarterbacks will lead both programs as Will Howard and Dillon Gabriel look to make a statement on the biggest stage. This game could determine which program is the favorite to win the Big Ten championship next season.

Other Potential Options: Ole Miss at LSU, Penn State at USC, Kansas State at Colorado, Texas vs Oklahoma

Week 8: Georgia at Texas

Location : Austin, Texas

This is one of the season's most anticipated games as two college football powerhouses meet in Austin. These programs have only met once since 1984, which ended in a Texas win in the Sugar Bowl in 2019. The Longhorns are looking to make a statement in their first season in the SEC, and there may not be a bigger statement than beating Georgia. The Bulldogs have won 39 consecutive regular season games but face one of the most challenging schedules in the nation. The quarterback battle between Carson Beck and Quinn Ewers adds another intriguing storyline to this game, as both are projected favorites for the Heisman Trophy.

Other Potential Options: Alabama at Tennessee

Week 9: Kansas at Kansas State

Location : Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State has not hosted College GameDay since 2000, but the flagship show could be headed to Manhattan for the Sunflower Showdown. Kansas State has won eight or more games in three consecutive seasons, while Kansas has momentum after winning nine games in 2023. Quarterbacks Avery Johnson and Jalon Daniels are two of the most electric players in college football, making this a must-see game.
Other Potential Options: Nebraska at Ohio State, Missouri at Alabama, Oklahoma at Ole Miss, Florida State at Miami, LSU at Texas A&M

Week 10: Ohio State at Penn State

Location : University Park, Pennsylvania

College GameDay has not made an appearance in Happy Valley since 2021. Penn State may be the biggest beneficiary of the 12-team College Football Playoff after finishing with 10 or more wins in five seasons since 2016. The Buckeyes have national championship aspirations, which adds even more intrigue to this matchup. The Nittany Lions are searching for their first victory against Ohio State since 2016. A win against the Buckeyes could set Penn State up for a much-anticipated College Football Playoff run.

Other Potential Options: Oregon at Michigan, Florida vs Georgia

Week 11: Georgia at Ole Miss

Location: Oxford, Mississippi

Can Ole Miss finally meet the lofty preseason expectations under head coach Lane Kiffin? The Bulldogs ended the Ole Miss hype in a 52-17 blowout last season and will need this win due to a brutal conference schedule next season. This could potentially be a preview of the SEC Championship game or eliminate one of these programs from contention. It also may be a must-win game for Kiffin, who has failed to defeat the top programs in the SEC during his tenure at Ole Miss.

Other Potential Options: Alabama at LSU, Oklahoma at Missouri, Florida at Texas, Florida State at Notre Dame

Week 12: Utah at Colorado

Location: Boulder, Colorado

The Tennessee-Georgia matchup should be the choice here, but ESPN will not miss an opportunity to capitalize on the Deion Sanders hype in Boulder next season. Even if the Buffaloes are not contending in the Big 12, the atmosphere should be electric as the preseason conference favorites will meet the Buffaloes. This matchup will feature an intriguing quarterback battle between Shedeur Sanders and Cam Rising, which should capture the nation’s attention. This game could be even more significant if Colorado exceeds preseason expectations and contends for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Other Potential Options: Tennessee at Georgia, LSU at Florida

Week 13: Montana at Montana State

Location: Bozeman, Montana

College GameDay always finds an opportunity to highlight a unique Group of Five or FCS environment each season. There may not be a more significant FCS rivalry than the Brawl of the Wild. The flagship show appeared in Bozeman during the 2022 season, but this year’s game could be even bigger. Montana State and Montana both have favorable schedules, while Montana State already knocked off New Mexico in Week 0. They could enter this game as undefeated teams, adding Big Sky title and FCS Playoff implications to this in-state rivalry game.

Other Potential Options: Alabama at Oklahoma, Ole Miss at Florida, USC at UCLA, Colorado at Kansas

Week 14: Texas at Texas A&M

Location: College Station, Texas

There are plenty of potential options on rivalry weekend, but ESPN will want to highlight the return of a historic college football rivalry game. The Aggies and Longhorns will meet for the first time since 2011, igniting an in-state rivalry that began in 1894. Many experts have predicted Texas will make another run to the College Football Playoff, which could add to the buzz surrounding this game.

Other Potential Options: Michigan at Ohio State, Notre Dame at USC, Alabama at Auburn, Washington at Oregon