Columbia Welcomes ESPN’s College GameDay for First Time in Almost a Decade

Columbia Welcomes ESPN’s College GameDay for First Time in Almost a Decade

Columbia, S.C. – This weekend, the University of South Carolina is set to host ESPN’s College GameDay for the first time since 2014, marking a significant event for football fans in the area. The preeminent college football pregame show will broadcast live from Gamecock Park on Saturday, September 16, from 9 a.m. to noon ET.

What to Expect

Viewers can expect an exciting atmosphere as College GameDay gears up for the South Carolina Gamecocks’ matchup against the No. 16 LSU Tigers. The lead trio for the broadcast, consisting of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Holly Rowe, will also call the game on ABC at noon ET.

Show’s Significance

This week’s College GameDay marks a continuation of its strong start to the season. Last week, the show attracted an average of 2.2 million viewers during its visit to Michigan, demonstrating a remarkable 26% increase compared to the previous year’s second week. The show peaked at 2.9 million viewers during its final hour. These numbers highlight College GameDay’s growing popularity among college football fans.

Hosts and Guests

This season, Rece Davis returns as host for his tenth year on the show. He will be joined by College GameDay analysts like Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban. In addition, the broadcast will feature the insights of college football insider Pete Thamel, betting analyst Stanford Steve Coughlin, and reporters Jen Lada and Jess Sims.

While additional guest announcements are pending, fans will find updates on those guests through ESPN PR’s Twitter and College GameDay’s Twitter accounts.

Digital Coverage

As part of its expansive coverage, ESPN will also present its digital pre-pregame show, Countdown to GameDay, on social platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and the ESPN App. This segment is hosted by Christine Williamson, Harry Douglas, and Harry Lyles Jr., who are entering their third season together. It will go live before the main show at 8:20 a.m. ET on Saturday.

Conclusion

The return of College GameDay to Columbia represents an excellent opportunity for local sports fans to engage with the present college football landscape. As excitement builds for the Gamecocks’ matchup with LSU, the atmosphere at Gamecock Park is sure to be energetic. For those unable to access ESPN programming due to recent service disruptions, fans can visit KeepMyESPN.com for assistance in receiving their favorite ESPN and Disney shows.