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ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot Returns to Salt Lake City Ahead of Big 12 Showdown

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot is set to return to Salt Lake City, Utah ahead of a highly anticipated Big 12 showdown between No. 17 Cincinnati and No. 24 Utah. The show will originate from the University of Utah's campus, marking the sixth time GameDay has been live from Utah. The event will feature a star-studded cast, including host Rece Davis, analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban, along with college football insider Pete Thamel and reporters Jen Lada and Jess Sims.

Key Takeaways:

  • ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will be live from Salt Lake City, Utah, ahead of the No. 24 Utah Utes' clash with No. 17 Cincinnati.
  • The show will originate from the University of Utah's campus, marking the sixth time GameDay has been live from Utah since 2023.
  • Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham will join the GameDay crew live on set ahead of the Top 25 clash, while Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will join the show live from Austin during pre-game warm-ups.
  • Legendary Utah quarterback and College Football Hall of Famer Alex Smith will serve as the celebrity guest picker for the show.
  • The Pat McAfee's Kicking Contest returns for its third season, offering fans the chance to attempt a 33-yard field goal and compete for prizes and charity donations.
  • Coach Nick Saban will break down North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker in the Coach's Film Room segment, while Pete Thamel will share the latest news from the coaching carousel.
  • Utah Mammoth stars Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther will join Mammoth mascot Tusky for a live interview with Jess Sims at 9 a.m.

Statistics:

  • The University of Utah leads the Western Conference in the NHL with a record of 8-3-1.
  • Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has a total of 23-22 record in his 6th season with the Utah Utes.
  • The Cincinnati Bearcats are led by junior QB Brendan Sorsby, who has 27 total touchdowns and 1 interception in the season.
  • The Reeves family of Dublin, Ohio has a long history with the iconic tradition of "The Best Damn Band in the Land".
  • Coach Alonzo Carter has over a decade of experience as a running backs coach and backup dancer for hip-hop icon MC Hammer.

Sources:

  • ESPN Press Room, Oct 30, 2025, "ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot Returns to Salt Lake City Ahead of Big 12 Showdown Between No. 17 Cincinnati and No. 24 Utah"
  • ESPN.com, "Countdown to GameDay Presented by Dr Pepper"
  • ESPN Press Room, "College Football GameDay's 2025 Season Preview"
  • ESPN App, "Watch ESPN on the App"

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