The first episode of "College GameDay" is almost as exciting as Week 1 of college football itself. The crew is a staple of the arrival of fall, and tailgates everywhere will have them talking CFB on Saturday morning.
This year's edition is going to have a few new regular faces. The notable one is the return of Pat McAfee, now officially an ESPN employee after joining the crew last season. Stanford Steve will also join as a betting maven.
Week 1 is going to be down the coast from ESPN's Bristol, Connecticut, headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina for the North Carolina vs. South Carolina primetime matchup. Drake Maye will be playing Spencer Rattler in the showdown, as both schools look to gain the upper hand.
The game will be played in Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers, as a neutral-site game between the Chapel Hill and Columbia-based schools.
MORE: Watch North Carolina vs. South Carolina live with Fubo (free trial)
Here's what to know about Week 1 of "College GameDay."
Where is 'College GameDay' location for Week 1?
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Time: 9 a.m. ET
- Matchup: No. 21 North Carolina vs. South Carolina
This will be North Carolina's third appearance on "College GameDay" and South Carolina's ninth.
North Carolina is 0-2 in its appearances, whereas South Carolina is 3-5.
North Carolina leads the series at 35-20-4, with South Carolina winning their last meeting 38-21 two years ago.
The two teams have never met on a "College GameDay" broadcast.
MORE: Breaking down ESPN's new-look 'College GameDay'
'College GameDay' schedule on ESPN
Saturday, Sep. 2
- Start time: 9 a.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo
The "GameDay" crew will preview all the Week 1 action live from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The North Carolina-South Carolina game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Is Lee Corso making picks on GameDay?
Lee Corso, 88, missed five iterations of "College GameDay" last season due to various ailments. His colleague and friend Kirk Herbstreit gave an update on Corso's health ahead of the season, which he said has been impacted by a stroke "12 or 13 years ago," per Sports Illustrated.
"We all wondered, 'Is he gonna be okay?'" Herbstreit said. "And he was determined with his speech therapist. If you ever know of anybody who's had a stroke, that's sometimes very hard to overcome and he still is working on that to this day. So it's not just that he's 88. It's that he had a stroke."
Corso will be on the air for "College GameDay" again this season, meaning CFB's most famous picker will be back on screens across the country.
Who did Lee Corso pick today?
| Week | Matchup | Location | Guest Picker | Corso's Headgear | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | N/A | Bristol, Connecticut | N/A | TBD | TBD |
| 1 | No. 21 North Carolina vs. South Carolina | Charlotte, North Carolina | Darius Rucker | TBD | TBD |
Who is the guest picker on 'College GameDay' for Week 1?
Singer Darius Rucker, one of South Carolina's most famous alums, is the guest picker on College GameDay for Week 1.
Saturday! Tune in at 9AM ET on @ESPN to hear @laineywilson, @thecadillac3 and I bring a new version of ‘Comin’ To Your City’ to @CollegeGameDay! Be sure to stick around and see my game picks around 11:30AM ET as the celebrity guest picker! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/3qz0bbH26O
— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) August 31, 2023