| College GameDay | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:2015_ESPN_College_GameDay_logo.png){kind=logo} 2015–2019 logo | |
| Presented by | Rece Davis |
| Starring | Lee Corso Kirk Herbstreit Desmond Howard Pat McAfee Nick Saban Jen Lada Jess Sims Pete Thamel Steve Coughlin |
| Opening theme | "Comin' to Your City" by Big & Rich (performed by Darius Rucker, Lainey Wilson, and The Cadillac Three) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Bristol, Connecticut (1987–2002) On location (1993–present) |
| Running time | 180 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ESPN |
| Release | September 5, 1987 – present |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
College GameDay (branded as ESPN College GameDay built by The Home Depot for sponsorship reasons) is a pre-game show broadcast by ESPN as part of the network's coverage of college football, broadcast on Saturday mornings during the college football season. In its current form, the program is typically broadcast from the campus of the team hosting a featured game being played that day and features news and analysis of the day's upcoming games.
The show takes on a festive tailgate party atmosphere, as thousands of fans gather behind the broadcast set, in view of the show's cameras. Many fans bring flags or hand-painted signs as well, and the school's cheerleaders and mascots often join in the celebration. Crowds at GameDay tapings are known to be quite boisterous and very spirited. Flags seen at the broadcast are not limited to those of the home team; for example, one large Washington State flag can be seen at every broadcast, regardless of the location or the teams involved. The idea began in 2003 on WSU online fan forums and has resulted in the flag, nicknamed "Ol' Crimson," being present at 303 consecutive GameDay broadcasts since 2003.[1][2][3]
The tailgate party theme also includes food brought onto the set cooked by a local business and the hosts sample the food prior to a commercial break, but the food is taken away by the time the programme resumes.
The show's current main intro and theme music is performed by country music duo Big & Rich, who perform their 2005 crossover hit "Comin' to Your City" with revised lyrics which mention several top college teams and a guest appearance by Cowboy Troy. Rap artist Travie McCoy (of Gym Class Heroes) now appears in the intro for this show, starting with 2014 season, as well as Lzzy Hale, lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock group Halestorm. Additional music that has been used for the show include "Boom" by the rock group P.O.D. and God Bless Saturday by Kid Rock. The show also uses various other songs/music either side of commercial breaks, many of which appear at the same point of each programme.
The show is known for its prediction segment that appears at the end of each broadcast. The predictions use the standard scoring system and do not use the spread in determining the pick. Typically there are six predictors: Corso, Herbstreit, Howard, Saban, Pat McAfee, and an invited guest, usually a celebrity, prominent athlete, or radio personality associated with the host school for that week. The show always concludes with Corso's prediction for the host school's game, after which he dons the mascot's headgear of the team he predicts to win the game, usually to the ire or excitement of local fans. As of November 9, 2024, Corso is 281–141 in his headgear picks. His first headgear pick occurred on October 5, 1996, when he correctly picked the Ohio State Buckeyes over the Penn State Nittany Lions. In 2018, Corso made his first NFL headgear pick when, as a guest on Sunday NFL Countdown, he correctly picked the New Orleans Saints to win their Week 9 game at home against the Los Angeles Rams.[4] Corso made his 400th headgear pick on September 16, 2023, for the Colorado/Colorado State rivalry game, he put on the headgear for Colorado.
As of November 9, 2024, Ohio State – Penn State and Alabama – LSU is the most featured matchup, appearing 13 times on College Gameday. Alabama – Georgia has been featured 11 times. Florida – Tennessee, Michigan – Ohio State and Army – Navy have been featured 9 times. Alabama – Auburn, Florida – Florida State, Florida State – Miami, and Oklahoma – Texas currently sit at 8.
- ^ Steward Mandel, Burning questions about BCS, a few candidates for Tennessee and more, SI.com, November 12, 2008, Accessed November 12, 2008.
- ^ Michael Hiestand, "GameDay" flag relay is worth a salute, USA Today, October 30, 2008, Accessed November 12, 2008.
- ^ "Ol' Crimson Booster Club – Waving the Washington State University flag on ESPN College Gameday since 2003. Keep the WSU streak alive, donate today. Go Cougs!". Olcrimson.org. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- ^ @ESPN: "Who did Lee Corso choose in his first-ever NFL headgear pick? Let's just say the crowd fired up the "WHO DAT!?" chant" ESPN on Twitter