Today I predict where ESPN’s College Gameday show will go for their weekly preview show on Saturday mornings.
August 28
Nebraska at. Illinois
The only game between Power 5 teams in week 0 should be the easy choice here. The Huskers and the Fighting Illini square off in Champagne.
September 4
Clemson vs. Georgia (Charlotte)
While I could see GameDay heading to Atlanta for Alabama-Miami in Atlanta, Clemson and Georgia will be top five teams in the country when the two meet to open their seasons on September 4. The QB matchup between Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei and Georgia’s JT Daniels will prove to be the difference in this one.
September 11
Oregon at. Ohio State
This game should be the easy pick in week 2. Two relatively young signal callers will meet in a game that could help each team’s respective College Football Playoff chances.
September 18
Alabama at. Florida
In what should be one of the better SEC games this season, the SEC Championship rematch should be yet another easy pick for the crew. Todd Grantham’s defense will do everything it can to rattle new Alabama signal caller Bryce Young and the relatively young Alabama offense.
September 25
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame (Chicago)
Because the game is at Soldier Field, the choice is obvious. Two classic teams playing in a game that feels like one that is in conference. But obviously, due to 2010’s realignment Notre Dame wants to maintain its pride and football independence. This game should be a fun one.
October 2
Oregon at. Stanford
While I could see GameDay head to Boulder for another Pac-12 match up, I doubt anyone would miss seeing the potential number one pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Defensive End Kayvon Thibodeaux, hard-hitting linebacker Justin Flowe, and the talented Oregon defense for a second time on college football’s premier pregame show. Stanford should be much improved in 2021, making this a roadblock to another Pac-12 Championship for the Ducks.
October 9
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)
New Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian will bring a new flavor to Austin not seen in past decades. Oklahoma has dominated the Big 12 in the last decade. Those are all reasons why ESPN should go to the Texas State Fair again in 2021.
October 16
Central Florida at. Cincinnati
You know GameDay always heads to a Group of 5 match up sometimes. The “Gus Bus” will definitely attract Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, and Desmond Howard as they head to Cincinnati for the game.
October 23
USC at. Notre Dame
The classic rivalry has not hosted College GameDay in quite sometime. And with the programs both set to be in the top 25 this season, it seems obvious for a return to South Bend for this match up.
October 30
Florida State at. Clemson
College GameDay has headed to Clemson the past few years for games and rightfully so. In my projections Notre Dame has already hosted it once, so they cannot head to South Bend again this week for North Carolina-Notre Dame. So, they head to Clemson for a match up with rival Florida State.
November 6
Auburn at. Texas A&M
The crew has not been to many SEC schools per my projections so they will change that when they preview Texas A&M battling Auburn.
November 13
Michigan at. Penn State
Both college football blue bloods had down seasons in 2020. The winner of this game will (hopefully) be able to challenge dominant Ohio State for the 2021 Big Ten crown.
November 20
Iowa State at. Oklahoma
The two split their match ups last year, with the Sooners winning the one that counted in the Big 12 championship. Oklahoma and Iowa State’s offenses both return their starting QBs (Iowa State’s Brock Purdy and Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler) and lots of offensive weapons. This will be a fun one to go to Norman to preview this one.
November 27
Texas A&M at. LSU
While I could go with the obvious (The Iron Bowl or The Game), GameDay should head to College Station.Texas A&M is considered the second best team in the SEC West and could still have a chance at the College Football Playoff with a win. After a down season for LSU in 2020, they could be in the same sentence as Texas A&M and Alabama; in the mix for playoff conversation.
Before I sign off, I wanted to say I will probably make an updated version of this before the season starts.
