Where is ‘College GameDay’ this week? Location, schedule, guest picker for College Football Playoff first round

Morgan Moriarty

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Where is ‘College GameDay’ this week? Location, schedule, guest picker for College Football Playoff first round image

The College Football Playoff is finally here. The second year of the 12-team playoff will kick off on Friday, Dec. 19. 

The first game will feature No. 9 Alabama taking on No. 8 Oklahoma on Friday night. Saturday will feature three matchups, including No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami, No. 11 Tulane vs. No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 12 JMU vs. No. 5 Oregon. 

This week, ESPN's 'College GameDay' will have shows at two locations. That means two shows featuring Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban and Kirk Herbstreit.  

Here's everything you need to know about College Gameday during the first round of the playoff. 

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Where is "College GameDay" located for the first round of the CFP? 

There will be two shows this week. Here is the breakdown for both broadcasts. 

Friday, Dec. 19 

  • Location: Norman, Okla.  
  • Time: 6 p.m. ET
  • Matchup: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma

Saturday, Dec. 21

  • Location: College Station, Texas
  • Time: 9 a.m. ET
  • Matchup: No. 10 Miami vs. No. 7 Texas A&M 

This week, 'College GameDay' will have two shows. First, the crew will broadcast live from the South Oval on Oklahoma's campus leading up to the Sooners home game against Alabama in the first round. 

Oklahoma had beaten Alabama earlier this season in Tuscaloosa, winning 23-21 in mid-Nov. The Sooners also defeated the Tide 24-3 the last time these two met in Norman last season. Oklahoma made it into the playoff with a 10-2 finish this season. Alabama finished 10-3, losing 28-7 to Georgia in the SEC title game a couple weeks ago. 

On Saturday morning, the crew will be at an entirely different location -- College Station, Texas. Norman is 357 miles south of College Station, so the crew will likely take a flight to the other location after the show on Friday morning.  

Miami made it into the playoff after finishing 10-2, and Texas A&M earned a No. 7 seed after finishing 11-1. The Aggies are listed as a slight 3.5-point favorite. 

MORE: College football predictions for 2025 CFP first-round games 

College GameDay schedule on ESPN

Friday, Dec. 19 

  • Start time: 6 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: ESPN 
  • Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo

Saturday, Dec. 20 

  • Start time: 9 a.m. ET
  • TV Channel:  ESPN
  • Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo 

"College GameDay" will be broadcast on ESPN and available for streaming on ESPN+. Viewers looking for an alternate streaming option can use Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users. 

Friday's iteration of the broadcast will take place in the evening before the game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET. But Saturday morning's will feel more familiar for fans, starting at the show's usual 9 a.m. Start time.  

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Who is the College GameDay guest picker for CFP round 1?

Two shows means two guest pickers. For Friday night's show in Norman, the show will welcome former Sooners linebacker Brian Bosworth. Bosworth, who played at Oklahoma from 1984-96 was on the Sooners' 1985 national championship squad.

He went on to play just two seasons in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, suffering a career-ending shoulder surgery in 1989. 

For the Saturday morning show in College Station, the show will welcome a former Aggie legend Johnny Manziel. Manziel played for Texas A&M from 2011-2013, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012.   

 

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