Predicting All 15 2021 College Gameday Sites
The popular ESPN pre-game show is entering its 29th season on location
College Gameday is one of those events that if you love the sport that it’s covering, you get butterflies just watching the opening shots before its ridiculous credits sequence.
The names attached to the show are synonymous with ESPN and college football: Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler, Rece Davis, Maria Taylor, Desmond Howard, David Pollack and, of course, Lee Corso.
They all bring, in their own unique way, joy to the gig. Some are frustrating to watch (looking at you, David) and some are inimitable pros.
The idea of going on location to the game of the week is as inspired an idea that ESPN has ever come up with and they’ve been able to parlay that into a monster of a broadcast every Saturday morning.
I’ve given up watching the show on a regular basis a couple of years back, but I try to always watch the last 30 minutes.
The fun for me, personally, is predicting where the crew may be going each week, but this year I’ve decided to try and predict all 15 broadcasts ahead of time.
The first couple of weeks are usually pretty easy to gauge. You look at all the schedules, see which ones are the most compelling and make the call. Week 2 is as easy as Week 1 because you bank on the participating teams being undefeated.
Once you get into the middle of the season, that’s where this exercise goes off the rails.
There are always two or three teams in a Power 5 conference who you didn’t expect to be as good as they are and now they’re competing for their division. Minnesota hosting Wisconsin at the end of the 2019 regular season comes to mind.
There are a couple of weeks on here that I can’t find a solid FBS game for Gameday to attend, so a creative alternative is necessary. Usually, this is where ESPN decides to send them to a FCS campus.
I’m also going to provide a substitute game in place of the ones I’ve predicted, mainly to hedge my bets. I don’t want the three people who read this to think I was totally off base.
Anyway, here are my predictions for each College Gameday site in 2021. Enjoy!
NOTE: ESPN just announced Week Zero and Week One destinations for the 2021 season and Week One is as predicted below.
Week 1 (September 4th)
Prediction: Clemson vs. Georgia (Charlotte, NC)
This is as easy a call as you can make. There are a couple of heaters for the opening week, but none like this one.
This will pit two Top 5 teams on a neutral field in an area of the country they’ve both done a terrific job of recruiting. Clemson brings with them a freakishly good defensive line unit (yes, even for them) and a new quarterback, while Georgia should have all the pieces to field its best offense of the Kirby Smart era.
The weaknesses are there: Clemson’s is at running back and Georgia’s is in the secondary. Still, it’s hard to imagine either one of these teams giving an inch, let alone a yard, easily.
The beauty of this game and its positioning in the schedule is that either team can easily be a Playoff contender if they lose. It’s honestly why these games should be scheduled more often. There isn’t anything to fear because the loss is, dare I say, a good one.
It’s definitely not as fun to see Gameday parked outside a football stadium in a large city, but we’ve come to expect that for Week One.
Substitution: none
Week 2 (September 11th)
Oregon at Ohio State
Again, a no-brainer.
Not only is this the best game of Week Two, it’s about the only good game. There’s not a whole lot of competition.
That shouldn’t minimize the potential greatness of this one, though. It’s like having a Rose Bowl in the fall. Ohio State, yet again a championship contender, and Oregon have all the makings of a fun competitive match-up.
State is, of course, recruiting at a level that far surpasses all but maybe two other teams, while Oregon has been the class of the Pac-12 for the last three years.
It’s going to be a delight to watch Kayvon Thibodeaux line up against the Buckeyes stout offensive line. This one is very much going to be State’s offense versus Oregon’s defense.
Columbus has hosted College Gameday 19 times (more than any other campus) and Week Two will be visit #20.
Substitution: none
Week 3 (September 18th)
Oklahoma at Nebraska
This is the first one that I may end up regretting.
Not only is Week Three a solid slate of, both, conference and non-conference games, but the Sooners will most likely annihilate the Cornhuskers.
The whole idea of College Gameday picking the “game of the week” is about the potential of the game itself.
Visiting the campus is secondary. They want the story. The intrigue. College Gameday wants ratings.
While Alabama traveling to Florida certainly gives them all of the above, I’m choosing Oklahoma-Nebraska for the novelty. This will be the first time the two former Big 12 rivals will have played since 2010. At the end of that season, the Huskers moved to the Big 10.
2009 was the last time this game was played in Lincoln and I’m thinking Gameday will want to capture that excitement over the actual “game of the week” that’s in Gainesville. Also, Auburn travels to Penn State which could be sneaky good.
I’m betting on both teams being 2-0 going into this game which should make it slightly more marketable. Seriously, if Nebraska loses to either Illinois or Buffalo they should just pack it up and move to Wyoming.
Substitution: Alabama at Florida
Week 4 (September 25th)
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin (Chicago, IL)
Here’s another novelty for you, but a more comfortable bet that Gameday will choose it: the Fighting Irish and the Badgers, two premiere FBS programs, going head-to-head inside Soldier Field in Chicago.
This isn’t the first time Soldier Field has hosted a college game, but it would be the first time College Gameday visited it.
The tricky part is that I could see either team with a loss on their schedules leading up to this one. Wisconsin hosts Penn State the first game of the season while Notre Dame has to travel to Tallahassee to take on Florida State.
Given these variables, I still believe that Gameday will choose Chicago for Week Four simply because it’s an event. Yes, it’s another NFL stadium in the middle of a giant city, but it’s cool. They don’t do these sites very often and it’s a way to offer up variety.
Even if one or both teams have a loss, this is an easy pick.
Substitution: none
Week 5 (October 2nd)
Auburn at LSU
This is a week that I could definitely see the crew deciding to pick an odd location given the lack of serious Power 5 options, but both LSU and Auburn may be sitting at 4-0 going into this one.
It’s a tougher ask of Auburn due to their game in Happy Valley, but, again, there isn’t much on the schedule to say there are better options.
If both teams are undefeated, it’ll be a Top 25, possibly Top 15, match-up. Auburn-LSU tends to be a weird one that’s dictated the SEC West in past seasons.
It’s Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin’s first season in the SEC and a lot of people will be interested to see if Ed Orgeron and LSU can bounce back after a disappointing 2020 campaign.
More than anything, it would be Gameday’s first trip to the SEC in 2021 (if they eschew Gainesville two weeks prior) and the good ol’ boys aren’t going to stand for much more waiting.
Substitution: Cincinnati at Notre Dame
Week 6 (September 9th)
Alabama at Texas A&M
Possible back-to-back weeks of SEC sites, but this one’s the real deal.
Most likely, A&M will be 5-0 going into one of the most anticipated early-season games of the season. ‘Bama’s got a tougher out with Miami, Florida and Ole Miss all on their schedule before heading to College Station.
Most believe that this game’s going to decide the SEC West in 2021. The Aggies haven’t beaten the Tide since its inaugural season in the SEC in 2012 and head coach Jimbo Fisher potentially has his best team since arriving in 2018.
Beyond this being a possible Top Ten match-up, the continuing storyline of former Saban assistants being 0-for whatever against the Big Man will undoubtedly make several appearances throughout the broadcast.
I don’t really see Alabama being anything less than 4-1 heading into this one and most believe a one-loss Crimson Tide team is better than most undefeateds.
Don’t overthink it. Gameday will absolutely be in College Station on October 9th.
Substitution: none
Week 7 (October 16th)
Miami (FL) at North Carolina
My God, an ACC game of the week that doesn’t involve Clemson.
*clutches pearls*
We’re getting to that point in the schedule where the teams we thought were going to be good may not be and vice versa.
If both teams are as advertised, which I don’t think is a given, then this could be one of the more exciting games of the season. Both programs are rolling out terrific QBs, (Sam Howell for UNC, D’Eriq King for Miami), but UNC lost a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball.
With five conference games prior to Miami, it’s hard for me to gauge whether the Tar Heels can win all five. Miami may lose to Alabama in Week One, but I don’t see another loss heading into the UNC game.
Even if UNC is 4-2 and Miami is 5-1, I still think Gameday chooses Chapel Hill for Week 7 for two reasons: 1) Very few teams are undefeated by this point in the season, 2) They’ve been to Chapel Hill for football once and it was 1997.
It’s going to be this one.
Substitution: none
Week 8 (October 23rd)
Jacksonville State at Sam Houston State
I believe this will be the first FCS site of the 2021 season and the location will be at defending FCS champs Sam Houston State home of Huntsville, TX, that bastion of college football.
Just outside of Houston, Huntsville is also home, apparently, to the Texas Prison Museum, which I’m sure has a lot to show off.
The big thing about Gameday going to a FCS program this season is the discussion of COVID and these teams having just wrapped up a spring campaign only months ago. If the show is always looking for a storyline, this is the one.
How tired are any of these guys going to be? It’s one thing to go through a month of spring practice, but to have a season and a playoff only to turn around and do it all again less than six months later is a tough task.
Still, both of these programs were great last year and I think they’ll be on the clock for Week Eight.
Substitution: James Madison at Delaware
Week 9 (October 30th)
Clemson at Florida State
I’m open to the idea of this one being dead wrong because I can see at least two other potential games Gameday can go to for Week Nine.
It’s not that any of them look stellar on paper, but you have to have a gut instinct about where all the teams will be. As bad as Florida State has been, Florida State has the schedule to be anywhere from 3-3 to 6-0 by the time they host Clemson.
The only potential loss on the Tigers’ schedule will be to Georgia, otherwise they’re golden heading into this game.
With FSU head coach Mike Norvell finally able to go through a spring practice with the ‘Noles and the transfer portal signing of former UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton, something feels different about this team.
Maybe I’m completely off base, here. There are other possibly terrific games in the hopper: UGA-UF in Jacksonville, Iowa at Wisconsin and North Carolina at Notre Dame.
I’m taking a big ol’ chance by predicting FSU-Clemson, but I have a gut feeling Gameday’s headed to Tallahassee for Week Nine.
Substitution: Florida vs. Georgia
Week 10 (November 6th)
Oregon at Washington
Yes, I’m aware LSU and Alabama play Week Ten. Yes, this would most likely be the only shot for Gameday to come to Tuscaloosa. Yes, I know they’ve broadcast from either Baton Rouge or Tuscaloosa for this game eight times over the last 13 seasons.
This is a gut pick based around the fact that the Pac-12 doesn’t really have a marketable “game of the week” until Oregon-Washington. I could see both teams with two losses going into this match-up, but Gameday has always found a niche setting out west during the fall.
By the time the broadcast airs at 9 AM EST, it’s only 6 AM out west which makes for a very cool atmosphere to begin an episode. It’s dark, yet you can hear madness behind the set, especially if they’re in Eugene.
This one’s in Seattle, but the Washington campus is awesome and people tailgate on the lake by the stadium.
Obviously, I very much reserve the right to be wrong and it’s just as easy to say Gameday will be in Tuscaloosa, but I’m going with Ducks-Huskies for Week Ten.
Substitution: LSU at Alabama
Week 11 (November 13th)
Michigan at Penn State
Early-to-mid November is where Gameday likes to pick an aircraft carrier on which to broadcast for Veteran’s Day. It will have been two days prior to Week Eleven and it’s as solid a bet they’ll do something for the Air Force-Colorado State game that week.
Still, I’m going with two of the most disappointing 2020 programs both having a bounce-back season, in the Wolverines and the Nittany Lions.
They’ll most likely be trailing Ohio State in the Big Ten East, but both programs will most likely be vying for second in that division and a legitimate shot at the Rose Bowl.
Again, there’s literally no evidence right now that either team will have the records to dictate this occurring, but it’s always a good time when Gameday travels to Penn State and it would, also, be the first full Big Ten match-up that they would’ve broadcast in 2021.
For now, I’m sticking with this one.
Substitution: Aircraft carrier somewhere for Air Force at Colorado
Week 12 (November 20th)
After choosing a Big Ten destination for the first time, Gameday turns around and goes to their first Big 12 game of the year.
Only once before have they traveled to Ames, Iowa, but if projections hold true, then they’re headed there for Week Twelve when the Sooners come to town.
A lot is going to depend upon how good Iowa State ends up being this season. They have a lot of experience returning to their team and a decent schedule for them to possibly be undefeated by the time they play Oklahoma.
As great as Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell has been for Iowa State, his teams tend to drop some head scratchers and there are some potential stumbling blocks along the way.
Still, I think at worst they’ll be 7-3 going into this game and the Sooners will most likely be undefeated. It’s worthy enough given that there’s not a lot going on that week, especially with six SEC teams playing G5 or FCS.
Oklahoma-Iowa State will be the premiere game in the Big 12 for 2021 and I have a feeling both teams will be in the Top 15 by November 20th.
Substitution: none
Week 13 (November 27th)
Ohio State at Michigan
Ah, rivalry week. Since 2010, the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn and the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry have hosted Gameday seven times.
It stands to reason that one of these will most likely be the destination for Week Thirteen.
I’m going with Ohio State-Michigan for one reason and one reason only: it didn’t happen in 2020.
The last time Ohio State and Michigan didn’t play before last season was World War I. In fact, there were five seasons from 1913-1917 that the game didn’t happen. We’re talking over 100 years since the Buckeyes and Wolverines didn’t face off.
That’s essentially the last time a major pandemic hit the United States. That’s what it took to cancel a game between these two.
It’s going to be a major talking point for the broadcast and the Ann Arbor crowd is going to be fired up. Even if Michigan is sitting at 8-3, 7-4 heading into the game, Ohio State will most likely be undefeated and Gameday will be there for it.
Substitution: Alabama at Auburn
Week 14 (December 4th)
SEC Championship Game (Atlanta, GA)
I’m not going to predict the teams, but Week Fourteen is always conference championship week and the SEC is going to be the landing spot.
Whether it’s UGA-Alabama or UGA-Texas A&M or even UGA-LSU, the SECCG will most likely feature two 11-1 teams, squarely in the middle of Playoff contention, vying for a spot in the final four.
You can make a case for the ACC Championship, especially if Miami or North Carolina ends up being 11-1 or even 10-2, winning the Coastal. Regardless, one of those teams will be playing a 12-0 or 11-1 Clemson team hellbent on destruction.
If, and it’s a big “if,” Iowa or Wisconsin have a stellar record by season’s end, I can see Gameday wanting to go to Indianapolis for a game against 12-0 Ohio State. Then again, they’ll be there in January for the national title game, so it may be too much Indy exposure.
The Pac-12 continues to host its championship game on the Friday before, although this year’s will be in the Raiders’ new home in Las Vegas. It makes for a much more enjoyable experience than Santa Clara, CA. Still, they’re out.
And I just don’t see the Big 12 Championship, especially if it’s Oklahoma-Iowa State again, having the strength to be the destination.
This one’s Atlanta all the way.
Substitution: none
Week 15 (December 11th)
Army vs. Navy (Philadelphia, PA)
This is as it’s always been. After Week Fourteen, you’ve got awards season, bowl season and New Year’s Six. The only FBS regular game left at this point is the always-a-laugh-riot Army-Navy rivalry.
Honestly, it’s like watching a freak show, as both teams run the wonderfully antiquated triple option. So stodgy are they in their methodologies, they almost seem like the innovative ones.
The game really is a blast to watch. The crowd is made up of service men and women who are jumping the entire time in their uniforms and usually it’s overcast and a little rainy when the game starts.
This is how College Gameday always wraps up the regular season before the New Year’s Six games occur.
It’s the perfect way to end any season.
Substitution: none
I’ll be checking back in to see how many on which I was totally off base, but I’m hoping for at least .500. We’ll see.