ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot Heads to Knoxville for Week 3 SEC Showdown

Strategic Insights -

ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot is set to make its 12th visit to Knoxville, Tenn., ahead of the Week 3 showdown between No. 15 Tennessee and No. 6 Georgia. The premier pregame show will be live from Ayres Hall Lawn at the University of Tennessee from 9 a.m. - noon ET on ESPN, ESPNU, and Disney+. This marks the first time Tennessee has hosted GameDay since 2022, and the Vols are looking to make a strong impression with a win over the Bulldogs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Vols are 5-6 in their previous 11 times hosting College GameDay and have won three straight, including a thrilling win over then-No. 3 Alabama in 2022.
  • Georgia is making its 40th all-time appearance on College GameDay and has won its last three games.
  • Rece Davis will lead the broadcast for his 11th season, joined by GameDay analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban.
  • Tennessee's head coach Josh Heupel will join GameDay live on-site before the game, while Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will have a live talk-back with the crew from the field in Tuscaloosa.
  • Legendary Lady Vol Candace Parker will serve as the guest picker for the show, and country singer Russell Dickerson will perform his hit single "Happen to Me" during the broadcast.
  • Nick Saban will take fans inside his film room to share the secrets of cornerback technique in the Coach's Film Room segment.
  • Pat McAfee's Kicking Contest will offer an exclusive contest during the live show, with fans who arrive early having the chance to attempt a 33-yard field goal.

Statistics:

  • College GameDay delivered its second-most-watched regular season episode on record with the Week 2 show from Oklahoma, averaging 2.6 million viewers (a 22% increase over 2024's Week 2 show).
  • The top college football pregame program brought in 3.3 million viewers in the final hour, with a peak of 3.7 million viewers.
  • GameDay has given out over $2,000,000 in prizes and charity donations across its time on the show through Pat McAfee's Kicking Contest.

Sources:

  • ESPN (September 11, 2025)
  • Original text: https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/09/espns-college-gameday-built-by-the-home-depot-heads-to-rocky-top-for-week-3-sec-showdown/