Will ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ return to the Pac-12 in 2023? A look at the weekly options

For all the pomp and circumstance that accompanies the ESPN ‘College GameDay’ broadcasts around the country, the immensely popular pregame show is one of the sport’s best barometers of true relevance — as the Pac-12 knows all too well.

During that forgettable stretch in the late 2010s and early 2020s, ‘College GameDay’ was rarely spotted in the Pacific Time Zone.

In fact, the show was a no-show in the 2019 and 2020 regular seasons, then made a single appearance in both 2021 and 2022. Meanwhile, it set up shop on four Group of Five campuses during that stretch. It visited Athens, Ga. five times.

But this year, the Pac-12 is arguably the best league in the land, with the best quarterbacks and several playoff contenders. And sure enough, ‘GameDay’ has followed: The show picked Boulder for Colorado’s early-season thriller against Colorado State and was in Seattle this weekend for Washington’s unforgettable victory over Oregon.

Not since the 2018 season had ‘GameDay’ made two regular-season trips to Pac-12 country.

Will it return for a third, and final, engagement?

It hasn’t made the trek west three times since the 2013 season (for broadcasts from Washington, Oregon and USC).

With the Pac-12’s loaded schedule down the stretch, there are a slew of opportunities.

The following options are listed chronologically, although it will quickly become clear to readers that some Saturdays are more likely than others.

The ‘GameDay’ locations are based on the best matchups and storylines, and there are a few showdowns elsewhere that conflict with Pac-12 duels.

(Team rankings are from the most recent AP poll.)

Oct. 21
Best Pac-12 matchup: No.14 Utah at No. 18 USC
‘GameDay’ options: No. 6 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State or No. 16 Duke at No. 4 Florida State
Prediction: ESPN has already announced the show is headed to Columbus.

Oct. 28
Best Pac-12 matchup: No. 9 Oregon at No. 14 Utah
‘GameDay’ options: No. 6 Oklahoma at Kansas, Florida vs. No. 1 Georgia or No. 16 Duke at No. 21 Louisville
Prediction: Given the absence of top-10 matchups on Oct. 28, ‘GameDay’ could very well head to Salt Lake City if Utah wins at USC next week.

Nov. 4
Best Pac-12 matchup: No. 5 Washington at No. 18 USC
‘GameDay’ options: No. 20 Missouri at No. 1 Georgia, No. 19 LSU at No. 11 Alabama or No. 6 Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
Prediction: Nothing would symbolize the Pac-12’s ascent (against the darkness of collapse) like ‘GameDay’ passing on Alabama-LSU in favor of a Pac-12 campus. But the last Bedlam Game before Oklahoma moves to the SEC is clearly compelling.

Nov. 11
Best Pac-12 matchup: No. 18 USC at No. No. 9 Oregon or No. 14 Utah at No. 5 Washington
‘GameDay’ options: No. 2 Michigan at No. 7 Penn State, Miami at No. 4 Florida State or No. 13 Mississippi at No. 1 Georgia
Prediction: Two fabulous options in the Pacific Northwest but one can’t miss location in Big Ten country. If Michigan and Penn State are both in the top-10 at the time, ‘GameDay’ will head to Happy Valley.

Nov. 18
Best Pac-12 matchup: No. 25 UCLA at No. 18 USC or No. 5 Washington at No. 12 Oregon State
‘GameDay’ options: No. 1 Georgia at No. 17 Tennessee, No. 2 Michigan at Maryland or No. 10 North Carolina at Clemson
Prediction: The ‘GameDay’ decision is partly based on storylines, and the final regular-season game for the L.A. schools as part of the Pac-12 is a storyline for the ages. Also, the options aren’t great with most of the top rivalries on hold until Week 13.

Nov. 25
Best Pac-12 matchup: Washington State at No. 5 Washington
‘GameDay’ options: No. 11 Alabama at Auburn or No. 3 Ohio State at No. 2 Michigan
Prediction: The Oregon-Oregon State game is on Friday and therefore not an option. But it doesn’t matter. The show will be in Ann Arbor, obviously.