ESPN College GameDay made a triumphant return in Week 1 with two appearances, doubling up on a packed opening-weekend college football schedule that stretched from Thursday to Monday.
After appearing at Ohio State–Indiana on Thursday and Alabama–Florida State on Saturday, the crew is headed back to Big Ten country in Week 2.
Last year, ESPN passed on Ohio State's visit to Oklahoma for — understandably — Virginia Tech and Tennessee's unique Battle at Bristol game. They are not missing the Buckeyes and Sooners this year.
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Location: Ohio State University – Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
at
Oklahoma (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)
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History
Ohio State becomes the first team to appear on College GameDay twice this season. They now have five appearance in the last two years and nine since 2012.
This is the Buckcyes' third-straight season hosting GameDay and 16th time overall. Columbus did not host the show between 2011-2014 but has now hosted three times since 2015. It's their first time hosting a Big 12 team since September 2005 when they lost to Vince Young and Texas, 25-22. It's also the first-ever GameDay matchup between the two schools.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, is making their first appearance since 2015, when they were featured three times. It's also their third-straight non-hosting appearance. They last hosted in October 2012 (Notre Dame).
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Guest Picker Predictions
College GameDay did not have a guest picker for Thursday's trip to Bloomington, Ind., for Ohio State-Indiana but they did welcome country music singer Sam Hunt to the set before Saturday's Alabama-Florida State matchup in Atlanta.
Who will be their Week 2 picker? Here are a few possibilities:
Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus would be an overwhelmingly popular choice with mass appeal for all college football fans. A Columbus native and alum of Ohio State, the Golden Bear would be a terrific pick to join Rece Davis and Co.
Michael Keaton
Kent State is far from a rival for Ohio State but would Buckeye fans still applaud the appearance of Michael Keaton, a former Kent State student?
Keaton is tearing up Hollywood and his latest film, American Assassin is scheduled to hit theaters on Sept. 8, one day before Ohio State-Oklahoma.
Steve Carell
How Steve Carell never got a GameDay appearance during the prime seasons of The Office is beyond explanation.
Similarly to Keaton, he has no well-known Ohio State ties (though this is becoming increasingly irrelevant as ESPN has selected many non-affiliated picks recently) but stars in Battle of the Sexes, which hits theaters later this month.
