For the first time since 2016, in Week 4, ESPN College GameDay will broadcast from a Pac-12 school, as predicted: Washington at Oregon.
GameDay visited two Pac-12 schools in 2016 (Washington and Utah) but didn't give the conference any love in 2017. Could they go back to the Pac-12 in Week 5? Or opt for the Big Ten, Conference USA or FCS?
Here are the most likely games for College GameDay in Week 5, ranked (and Week 6 GameDay predictions).
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1. Ohio State at Penn State
GameDay's visit to Penn State last year was their first to University Park since 2009, and the following week in Columbus was the first Ohio State vs. Penn State GameDay game since 2010.
The Nittany Lions are heavy favorites to host in Week 5 if they don't lose to Illinois in Week 4 — it'd help if Ohio State isn't stunned by Tulane, too.
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2. Louisiana Tech at North Texas
ESPN will be raked over the coals if they pass on one of the biggest matchups of the year for a Conference USA game in Denton, Texas. I, personally, would love it. Be bold, ESPN.
Seth Littrell and Mason Fine have North Texas on the national radar for the first time ever, and if Louisiana Tech stuns LSU in Week 4 (unlikely, yes), this would be a worthy selection.
GameDay has never broadcasted from Denton and hasn't visited a Conference USA school since 2011 (SMU at Houston).
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3. BYU at Washington
Two straight west-coast games involving a Pac-12 school? LOL, says ESPN; GameDay didn't visit a Pac-12 school all of last year. However, with BYU's win at Wisconsin in Week 3, an undefeated matchup between the Cougars and Washington in Seattle makes sense.
Washington has hosted GameDay twice (2013 and 2016) and made six all-time appearances. BYU has hosted once (2009) and made two total appearances.
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4. South Dakota State at North Dakota State
As noted in my FCS GameDay predictions, Ohio State and Penn State have other opportunities to host GameDay. And while North Dakota State does as well, it's the Bison's turn to host (after James Madison has hosted the last two FCS GameDay games), and this is a gigantic matchup in the Missouri Valley Football Conference that could interest ESPN if they pass on the OSU-PSU game.
MORE: Week 6 GameDay Predictions
