Through seven weeks of the college football season, ESPN College GameDay has yet to visit an ACC or FCS school. Could that change in Week 8?
Here are some predictions for GameDay in Week 8, which I didn't rank this week because I don't have a clue which of these games ESPN will pick.
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NC State at Clemson
Clemson has 10 GameDay appearances since 2015, but the Tigers haven't hosted the show since early in the 2016 season. NC State, meanwhile, has one all-time appearance, which came in 2004.
Both teams will be undefeated entering Week 8 (both have a Week 7 bye) and will be playing for the division lead. The winner has a clear path to the ACC Championship and playoff.
If ESPN wants to visit Clemson this season, this is their only remaining option.
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Illinois State at North Dakota State
This game topped my preseason list for the FCS' best chances at hosting GameDay this season. That hasn't changed.
As noted, this isn't the juiciest game on North Dakota State's schedule, but the timing is the best thanks to weak FBS options. Fargo has hosted twice before (2013 and 2014) and has been widely applauded by ESPN folks as one of the best hosts in the show's 26 years on the road.
If it doesn't happen this week, NDSU (or, although very unlikely, another team like Montana) could still host on Nov. 17.
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Colorado at Washington
In what could be a preview of the Pac-12 Championship, this would be a massive game if Washington (at Oregon) and Colorado (at USC) win in Week 7.
Washington has hosted GameDay twice (most recently in 2016), but Colorado hasn't appeared since a 1997 trip to Michigan. If ESPN passes on this game, their Week 4 visit to Oregon will probably be the Pac-12's only appearance of the season.
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Oregon at Washington State
GameDay has never visited Washington State. The Cougars have been a road team once (2002 at Ohio State) and a neutral-site team once (1998 Rose Bowl), but they've never hosted.
The Washington State flag has been a staple of GameDay since 2003 and Oregon and Washington State could both be one-loss teams competing for the Pac-12 North title (and potentially a playoff spot).
Will ESPN finally go to Pullman?
