Updated:
Oct 19, 2026 , 11:54 PM ET
• 4 min read
We’re tracking the 2026 College GameDay schedule, including this week’s location, confirmed future campus stops, and the latest Kalshi predictions throughout the college football season.
Photo By – USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. Kirk Herbstreit speaks on the set of ESPN College GameDay.
College GameDay is headed to Salt Lake City for Houston vs. Utah in Week 8, as the No. 14 Cougars visit the No. 10 Utes on Saturday at 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN). After last week’s stop at BYU, the show stays in Utah for another matchup with Big 12 title and playoff implications.
We’re tracking every stop on the 2026 College GameDay schedule, from confirmed campus locations to the latest projections from the best prediction market apps. Below, you’ll find the latest on the Week 8 location and guest picker, the full schedule, and the contenders for ESPN’s next stop.
Where is College GameDay this week?
College GameDay will broadcast from Presidents Circle at the University of Utah on Saturday, Oct. 24. The show airs from 9 a.m. to noon ET (7 to 10 a.m. MT) on ESPN and ESPNU. Houston and Utah kick off later that night at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 10:15 p.m. ET (8:15 p.m. MT) on ESPN.
Utah is 6-0 after escaping Colorado with a 27-24 win, extending the nation’s longest active winning streak to 12 games. Houston improved to 6-1 by beating Oklahoma State in a 35-32 barnburner, setting up a top-15 showdown with plenty at stake in the Big 12 race. I broke down this matchup with my look at College GameDay Week 8 with show details and what to expect on the field when these teams face off.
This will be Utah’s seventh time hosting College GameDay. The queuing area opens Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. MT with SportsCenter segments beginning Saturday at 5:30 a.m. MT ahead of the main show. Utah’s GameDay fan guide has full arrival and parking details.
Who is the GameDay guest picker this week?
The Week 8 College GameDay guest picker has not been announced. We’ll update this section once ESPN reveals who will join the crew.
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2026 College GameDay schedule
We’ve broken down the College GameDay schedule through Thanksgiving weekend. The first seven stops are complete, and Salt Lake City is confirmed for Week 8. Future matchups follow Kalshi’s highest available Yes bids; unpriced weeks remain TBD.
| Week | Date | Matchup (Location) | Yes bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sept. 5 |  Clemson at  LSU (Baton Rouge, LA) |
Confirmed |
| Week 2 | Sept. 12 |  Ohio State at  Texas (Austin, TX) |
Confirmed |
| Week 3 | Sept. 19 | LSU at  Ole Miss (Oxford, MS) |
Confirmed |
| Week 4 | Sept. 26 | Texas at  Tennessee (Knoxville, TN) |
Confirmed |
| Week 5 | Oct. 3 | Ohio State at  Iowa (Iowa City, IA) |
Confirmed |
| Week 6 | Oct. 10 |  Georgia at  Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL) |
Confirmed |
| Week 7 | Oct. 17 |  Notre Dame at  BYU (Provo, UT) |
Confirmed |
| Week 8 | Oct. 24 |  Houston at  Utah (Salt Lake City, UT) |
Confirmed |
| Week 9 | Oct. 31 | Ohio State at  USC (Los Angeles, CA) |
10¢ |
| Week 10 | Nov. 7 |  Miami at Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN) |
10¢ |
| Week 11 | Nov. 14 | Texas at LSU (Baton Rouge, LA) |
1¢ |
| Week 12 | Nov. 21 | TBD | — |
| Week 13 | Nov. 28 | TBD | — |
Yes bids via Kalshi as of Oct. 19. Future locations are unconfirmed and subject to change.
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*Eligible U.S. locations only
Future College GameDay locations
Week 9 on Saturday, Oct. 31 is the next unannounced stop on the College GameDay schedule. We’ll keep this page updated throughout the season with the latest market favorites and ESPN announcements.
Where will College GameDay be in Week 9?
Ohio State at USC and Arizona at Texas Tech offer two potential ranked matchups for Halloween. All four teams are in this week’s AP Top 25, giving ESPN a pair of games with conference title and playoff implications. USC heads to Wisconsin this weekend, while Texas Tech visits Cincinnati, so both hosts still have work to do before Week 9.
How are College GameDay locations chosen?
ESPN doesn’t publish a specific formula for choosing College GameDay locations. The show naturally gravitates toward some of the biggest and most consequential games on the college football schedule, but rankings aren’t the only factor.
Major rivalries, conference and playoff implications, national storylines, campus atmosphere, and previous history at that location all factor into ESPN’s final decision. The show has shown a preference for new locations in recent years, though it won’t turn down a marquee matchup when available.
ESPN also has complete discretion over the final destination, which is why the Kalshi markets should be viewed as live projections rather than official selections.
College GameDay location history
College GameDay began its traveling era in 1993 and celebrated its 500th road broadcast in Baton Rouge for Clemson at LSU in Week 1 on Sept. 5, 2026.
Which school has hosted College GameDay the most?
Ohio State has hosted College GameDay more than any other school with 26 campus visits entering the 2026 season.
The Buckeyes also lead all programs in total appearances. Their Oct. 3 trip to Iowa marked their 70th College GameDay appearance, according to ESPN.
Which Power Four schools have never hosted College GameDay?
Entering Week 8, six Power Four schools are still waiting for their first on-campus College GameDay visit:
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Rutgers
- SMU
- Syracuse
- Virginia
College GameDay FAQs
What time does College GameDay start?
College GameDay airs on Saturday mornings beginning at 9 a.m. ET and runs for three hours before the noon college football window begins.
What channel is College GameDay on?
College GameDay airs on ESPN and ESPNU and is available via streaming through the ESPN App and Disney+ throughout the season.
When does ESPN announce the College GameDay location?
There isn’t a fixed announcement schedule for College GameDay locations. ESPN sometimes locks in marquee destinations weeks or even months ahead of time, while other selections aren’t confirmed until much closer to the upcoming Saturday. The first two locations of the 2026 season were announced months in advance. ESPN confirmed its Week 7 trip to Provo on Saturday, Oct. 10, one week before Notre Dame visited BYU. Its Week 8 trip to Utah was announced on Sunday, Oct. 18, six days before Houston visits Salt Lake City.