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.
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
