Image Courtesy: USA Today
August 23
Iowa State vs. Kansas State (Dublin; Aer Lingus College Football Classic)
ESPN’s College GameDay made there way to Dublin for the first time last August so, this is the obvious pick for if they go anywhere for week 0. The rivalry called “Farmageddon” is an intense one every year as both squads will look to get their first Big 12 victories of the season a week before most schools start playing. The Wildcats look to avenge their Thanksgiving weekend loss to the Cyclones in Ireland.
August 30
Texas @ Ohio State
In what should be an easy pick for game 1 of the regular season, the reigning national champion Buckeyes (a favorite of College GameDay over the years) face Texas in a rematch of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl last December. It will be Arch Manning’s debut as the starting quarterback for the Longhorns as they attempt to avenge their loss to Ohio State.
September 6
Michigan @ Oklahoma
After going to a Big Ten-SEC match up at the home of a Big Ten school, things would flip a week later if the crew heads to Norman for another battle between teams from the top two conferences in college football. Brent Venables’ Sooners look to improve from a 6-7 2024 campaign with a win over Michigan’s new look offense with freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood taking over as the signal-caller in Ann Arbor.
September 13
Georgia @ Tennessee
Nico Iamaleava’s departure from Tennessee may complicate choosing this game but if his replacement helps the Volunteers get to 2-0 on the young season, this should be the choice for week 3. Georgia, the back to back national champions in 2022 and 2023, look to get back to the mountain top by starting SEC play with a dominant win on “Rocky Top”.
September 20
Florida @ Miami
Florida better not be struggling at this point in the season or College GameDay will not be on site in Coral Gables for the Gators and Hurricanes’ second match up in as many years. The Gators face LSU in week 3 before heading to south beach. Miami QB Cam Ward exploded in a 41-17 win over their instate rivals to open the season in Gainesville last fall. Now, former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck faces Florida again, a school he originally committed to play baseball back when he was in high school before flipping to the Bulldogs. There are too many storylines in this game to not choose it if both teams are at least 2-1 entering action on September 20.
September 27
Oregon @ Penn State
A rematch of last season’s Big Ten championship is my pick for College GameDay this week. Alabama does make its return trip to Athens for a battle with Georgia but the lack of Big Ten flavor makes me think they will head to State College, another location the crew loves going to almost every season. Drew Allar returns at quarterback for the Nittany Lions as they will face a new look Oregon roster who comes off of exiting the College Football Playoff to new Big Ten foe Ohio State in the quarterfinals.
October 4
Clemson @ North Carolina
There is no true headliner game going into the season in week 6. But, there are a few options that seem realistic. Seven time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick’s debut season in Chapel Hill will be interesting. The Tar Heels welcome reigning ACC champion Clemson to town to open conference play. If the Tar Heels have an okay or better record and Clemson is as good as we think they are entering the month of October, this pick makes sense for College GameDay.
October 11
Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas)
Texas is normally the favorite entering “Red River Rivalry” Saturday and probably will be with just single loss or none (probably to Ohio State). But, former Washington State QB John Mateer is now in Norman with a receiving core that will hopefully be healthier next season and a defense that loses linebacker Danny Stutsman among others but should be good with head coach Brent Venables now calling plays. College GameDay was not at Cotton Bowl Stadium for the Texas State Fair last October but I predict them to return there this fall.
October 18
Texas Tech @ Arizona State
If College GameDay wants a chance to head to Tempe, Arizona, to see the reigning Big 12 champion Arizona State, this will be a good opportunity. Young coaching super star Kenny Dillingham proved himself as he brought the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals. His quarterback Sam Leavitt returns next to a cast of new offensive playmakers. On the other hand, Texas Tech will look to bounce back from a tough Liberty Bowl loss to Arkansas in December. Head coach Joey McGuire should have his guys ready as his team faces the Sun Devils.
October 25
Alabama @ South Carolina
Two teams that were just outside of qualification for the first ever 12-team playoff last fall face off in a rematch from last season. South Carolina likely would have been in with a win over the Crimson Tide. The Gamecocks fell 27-25 to Alabama last October while the Crimson Tide must have been looking forward to the “Iron Bowl” against Auburn, losing to Oklahoma in Norman 24-3 the third Saturday in November.
November 1
Penn State @ Ohio State
It feels like the College GameDay crew is always at this match up. Penn State has not beaten Ohio State since 2016 when they blocked the field goal and brought it to the end zone. The first day of November in 2025 may be the Nittany Lions’ best shot since then. Penn State signal caller Drew Allar is one of the most experienced in the country and with a talented defense every season, Ohio State should be challenged at home versus the Nittany Lions.
November 8
LSU @ Alabama
Another game College GameDay is seemingly always at is a rivalry in the SEC that was built by coaches like Nick Saban and Les Miles. Can Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and LSU’s Brian Kelly bring that rivalry back as both squads look to beat the other and make the College Football Playoff after failing to do so last fall?
November 15
Texas @ Georgia
Texas and Georgia are set for their third match up since the Longhorns entered the SEC. The Longhorns are still looking for their first win over the Bulldogs after falling to them last October and in the SEC Championship game in December. This is the obvious pick for the show the third weekend of November as Arch Manning returns to Athens where many thought he might be playing college football when he was being recruited in high school.
November 22
USC @ Oregon
The second to last Saturday of the regular season is always wide open because of the amount of teams down south that play Group of 5 and FCS schools that weekend. So, I think College GameDay goes west. Last season’s top overall seed in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff was Oregon. This is the best opportunity I had left to give the Ducks the premiere Saturday morning pregame show against old Pac-12 rival. USC will be interesting this season as a new quarterback steps in after Miller Moss’ exit to the transfer portal. The Trojan defense improved last season but if they want to beat Oregon, Lincoln Riley will need his defense to be at that level or better to win on the road in Autzen Stadium.
November 29
Ohio State @ Michigan
I could totally see College GameDay going to Austin in Texas A&M’s first return trip to face their instate rivals as SEC foes but I believe they will pass on it to go to “The Game” again. Ohio State will be at the very least a top two team in nation in the pre-season but have not beaten Michigan in four seasons. The Wolverines did win a national championship in one of those seasons (2023) but it feels like Ryan Day’s team has always been has always been more talented. But, they have yet to do the job.
December 6
SEC Championship Game (Atlanta)
College GameDay normally heads to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. With the conference entering its second season with Disney, and the league looking to win its first national championship since 2023, the best storylines will be there as the final College Football Playoff rankings will come the following day.
December 13
Army vs. Navy (Baltimore)
The only game the second Saturday in December every year will be in Baltimore this winter. Army-Navy is the classic American rivalry and College GameDay loves going to the celebration of military football every season.
I wanted to end this post by thanking Lee Corso for all of his great years on College GameDay. The show will never be the same after his last appearance ever on Saturday morning of week 1. Thank you again Coach!
