ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ will not visit Madison for Wisconsin vs. Alabama

ESPN will not send its “College GameDay” crew to Madison, Wisconsin, for Wisconsin-Alabama on Saturday.

Panelists Rece Davis, Nick Saban, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit will instead venture to Columbia, South Carolina, for the South Carolina Gamecocks contest against the LSU Tigers.

Given the buzz surrounding the Badgers’ Week 3 game against the No. 4 Crimson Tide at Camp Randall, the news is somewhat surprising. Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” starring Rob Stone, Mark Ingram and Matt Leinart will originate from UW’s campus.

ESPN’s crew was in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this past weekend for the Wolverines’ contest against the Texas Longhorns.

Wisconsin most recently received GameDay coverage when it played Notre Dame on Sept. 25, 2021, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The program last originated in Madison when the Badgers defeated nationally ranked Michigan, 24-10, on Nov. 18, 2017.

UW’s match against Alabama will be the most high-profile game in Camp Randall since Wisconsin hosted the Ohio State Buckeyes on Oct. 28, 2023 in a prime-time slot.

With a win, Wisconsin would certainly land in the AP Top 25. Luke Fickell’s group already owns wins over Western Michigan and South Dakota.