College GameDay Heads to Columbus for Week 1: A Celebration of Football and a Legend's Farewell
College football is back, and with it comes the return of ESPN's College GameDay. For Week 1, the GameDay crew heads to Columbus, Ohio, for a highly anticipated matchup between the No. 1 Texas Longhorns and the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. This edition holds special significance as it marks legendary analyst Lee Corso's final show after a remarkable career.
A Storied Tradition Continues
ESPN's College GameDay has been a staple of college football Saturdays since its debut in 1987. The show travels to the site of one of the week's most compelling games, offering previews, analysis, and the iconic headgear pick by Lee Corso.
Ohio State leads all programs in hosting College GameDay broadcasts with 67 appearances. Alabama is closest with 60, followed by Florida (42). The Buckeyes also hold the record for most wins with GameDay in attendance (40), according to ESPN.
Week 1: Buckeyes vs. Longhorns in the Spotlight
The decision to bring College GameDay to Columbus was a tough one, with other compelling matchups on the schedule. No. 4 Clemson vs. No. 9 LSU at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., plus No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. The selection of the Ohio State-Texas game underscores its significance as a potential "Game of the Century" and a fitting stage for Corso's farewell.
The game will be a rematch of the College Football Playoff Semifinal.
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Celebrating Lee Corso's Legacy
The Week 1 show will be a celebration of Corso's extraordinary run with College GameDay. After nearly 30 years of headgear picks, Corso's final selection won't be one to miss. The show already posted a special Corso tribute ahead of Week Zero action last Saturday, which was made up of emotional messages and closed by Herbstreit, who choked us all up as he struggled to get through his speech. Special programming honoring and celebrating Corso’s career will be present throughout the Week 1 show in addition to the GameDay crew previewing the upcoming season and all the action of the kickoff Saturday slate.
Corso, who turns 90 in August, has been a part of college football’s premier pregame show since it debuted in 1987, and his very first headgear pick - when he donned Ohio State’s Brutus Buckeye mascot head - happened in Columbus on October 5, 1996. Corso’s weekly end-of-show pick during GameDay’s Saturday Selections has become a college football tradition, surprising and delighting fans for nearly three decades.
The Broadcast Details
College GameDay will broadcast outside Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30, leading up to the noon ET kickoff between the Buckeyes and Longhorns. Host Rece Davis will be joined by analysts Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban on the desk. The show will air on ESPN. The Texas at Ohio State game will be televised on Fox. Kickoff is set for noon ET. Both Texas and Ohio State are among the national championship favorites.
Guest Picker Speculation
ESPN has yet to announce the guest picker for the Week 1 College GameDay show in Columbus. The home team is normally represented with the guest picker, however we may see ESPN deviate from the norm due to Corso's last show.
Some candidates with Ohio State ties could be A.J. Hawk, C.J. Stroud, Garrett Wilson, Joe Burrow or maybe even LeBron James. The Buckeyes will of course have some representation already on the desk with Herbstreit, who played quarterback from 1989 to '93. As that's the case, maybe we'll see some someone with ties to the Longhorns like Matthew McConaughey, Vince Young or Bijan Robinson. Corso's family could even get the call for his final show, too.
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A Look Back at College GameDay History
Since ESPN's "College GameDay" preview show premiered for Notre Dame-Florida State in 1993, the pre-game show has traveled around the country at the top games each week. Along with featuring traditional powers such as Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and more, the show has also visited FCS schools and even DIII.
Ohio State has the most appearances with 67. Alabama is a close second with 60 appearances. But the Buckeyes have the most wins with GameDay in attendance, winning 47 games. For teams with at least five appearances, USC leads the nation in winning percentage. Though not held in consecutive weeks, Ohio State is the only school to play in three College GameDays in a row in the same season. Army has the most GameDay appearances for a school outside the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC (and not including Notre Dame).
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