A Saturday institution since 1987, ESPN’s “College GameDay” has become a tradition ingrained within college football, a roving college football circus “Comin’ to your City” for three hours every game day morning, and it’s back for the 2024 college campaign.
The long-running Saturday morning football staple has visited Dublin and College Station so far this season, but what is the location for College Gameday in Week 2?
Here’s all the information on the College GameDay location and guest picker for Week 2 of the 2024 college football season.
ESPN College GameDay Location for Week 2
- Location
Ann Arbor, Michigan - Matchup
Michigan vs. Texas - Show time
9 a.m. ET - TV Channel
ESPN/ESPNU
ESPN announced last weekend that Ann Arbor, Michigan, will be the College Gameday location for Week 2. Given that the matchup between the third-ranked Texas Longhorns and 10th-ranked Michigan Wolverines is the only clash of AP Poll Top 10 teams this weekend, it’s an unsurprising selection for the flagship show.
There is no doubt that this Michigan vs. Texas matchup is the most exciting on the college football calendar this weekend and one of the highlights of the entire 2024 schedule.
A matchup of two such highly-regarded teams so early in the campaign has the potential to change the course of the entire season despite the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams this year.
Adding to the allure of an already hotly-anticipated matchup is the rarity of a contest between two programs considered “blue bloods.” Their only prior encounter was an enthralling 38-37 Longhorns win in the 2005 Rose Bowl, where Vince Young won the first of two consecutive Offensive MVP awards in the marquee game — the second in leading Texas to a national title in 2006.
Ann Arbor is selected as a College GameDay location for the second season in succession and Michigan has now been the host team for 15 editions of the ESPN flagship.
Host Rece Davis and co. were in the home of the Wolverines last season for the annual rivalry game with the Ohio State Buckeyes. That game was also the main event when the program traveled to Ann Arbor in 2021.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Michigan has been one of the most-featured teams on College GameDay, and Saturday will mark the 40th appearance of the reigning national champions. They have a 21-18 winning record when being the main event. Meanwhile, Texas has put together an 11-11 event when featured on College GameDay, with Week 2 marking their 23rd appearance on the ESPN flagship show.
The Longhorns enter the Week 2 clash as a seven-point favorite, according to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, after turning over Colorado State 52-0 to open the season in style. A few questions hang over this Michigan team, who boast a ferocious defense but have some offensive concerns to clear up after a sluggish start to their 30-10 win over Fresno State.
ESPN College GameDay Guest Picker for Week 2
A game of such magnitude as the Texas vs. Michigan matchup deserves a guest picker of equal significance. On Thursday, College GameDay announced that one of the most successful athletes in the history of sport, swimmer Michael Phelps, would be the guest picker for the Week 2 edition of College GameDay.
🚨 WEEK 2 GUEST PICKER ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
We’ve got the 🐐 @MichaelPhelps joining us live from Ann Arbor on Saturday‼️ pic.twitter.com/jZCZDGYDrN
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 5, 2024
Phelps, who has set 39 world records and won a total of 28 Olympic medals during his swimming career, can be seen sporting a Michigan hat in the announcement video. The College GameDay guest picker was a volunteer assistant coach at the Ann Arbor-based university. Meanwhile, he has football connections from his father, who played college ball in the 1970s.
List of 2024 College GameDay Guest Pickers:
- Week 0: Seamus (2-1)
- Week 1: Johnny Manziel (5-4)
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