ESPN announced Tuesday that “College GameDay” will debut in Columbus this upcoming season ahead of the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Sept. 3. Additionally, a number of early-season matchups.
The Power 5 conferences are all represented in the six ABC games at neutral sites.
On Saturday, Sept. 3, defending CFP national champion Georgia kicks off its season in Atlanta against Oregon in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff (2:30 p.m., ABC).
The game precedes Notre Dame at Ohio State (6:30 p.m., ABC). Two of the most storied and iconic brands in the sport have met six times previously, with the Buckeyes carrying a four-game win streak since 1995. The Fighting Irish’s first-year head coach Marcus Freeman returns to Ohio State where he was a standout linebacker for the Buckeyes.
“College GameDay,” with host Rece Davis and analyst Kirk Herbstreit, will make its 21st visit to Columbus – more than any other city. Entering its 36th season, the premier college football pregame show starts at 8 a.m. on ESPN.
The Labor Day Sunday night showdown (Sept. 4) on ABC is the Allstate Louisiana Kickoff, as Florida State battles LSU – with the debut of new head coach Brian Kelly.
Here are games with confirmed kickoff times:
- Georgia vs. Oregon, 2:30 p.m. (ABC), Sept. 3
- Notre Dame at Ohio State, 6:30 p.m. (ABC), Sept. 3
- Florida State vs. LSU, 6:30 p.m. (ABC), Sept. 4
- Wisconsin at Ohio State, TBD (ABC), Sept. 24
- Texas vs. Oklahoma, TBD (ABC), Oct. 8
- Florida at Florida State, 6:30 p.m. (ABC), Nov. 25
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.
