ESPN’s College GameDay is hitting the road for the first time this college basketball season. The network announced on Friday that GameDay will broadcast live from Auburn University on Saturday, Jan. 25th, where the Tigers will face the Tennessee Volunteers. This will mark Auburn’s fifth time hosting the show, while the Vols prepare for their ninth appearance.
The crew remains largely the same as in previous years, with Rece Davis hosting alongside analysts Jay Bilas, Andraya Carter, Seth Greenberg, and Jay Williams. New this season is the addition of Pete Thamel as the show’s college sports insider. “We are thrilled to hit the road for this season of College GameDay as the energy each college campus brings is unmatched,” said coordinating producer Aaron Katzman. “With Rece, Jay Bilas, Andraya, Seth, and Jay Williams’s voices leading the way, we look forward to showcasing the dynamic players, storylines, and atmospheres of men’s college basketball throughout this spring.”
This matchup is an exciting first stop for GameDay since both teams are ranked in the top-10, with Auburn holding the No. 1 spot. Furthermore, Auburn’s coach, Bruce Pearl, faces his former team, which he guided to three Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight during his tenure, and also served as an ESPN analyst between his roles at Tennessee and Auburn.
Additionally, ESPN will produce a pre-pregame show titled Countdown to GameDay for its digital platforms, airing live from Bristol in the lead-up to GameDay. The 30-minute show will be hosted by Sam Ravech, featuring a rotating group of analysts, including Norris Cole, Dalen Cuff, Harry Lyles Jr., Myron Medcalf, and Quentin Richardson. ESPN’s announcement also confirmed the continuation of State Farm’s sponsored half-court shot, allowing students to win prize money each week.
Finally, Friday has been a significant day for ESPN in the college basketball realm, with the network also announcing that legendary college hoops broadcaster Dick Vitale will make his return to the broadcast booth next week. This will be his first game since April 2023 after a lengthy absence due to his battle with cancer. It seems the college basketball season is officially gearing up for March.
