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400 And Counting: College GameDay Marks Milestone Episode Saturday

Do you think you know GameDay? Before the historic show in Charlotte, check out these facts and figures

As College GameDay Built by The Home Depot closes out the 2020 regular season this Saturday (9 a.m. ET, ESPN), the three-hour pregame show will do so in momentous fashion.

While traveling to the ACC Championship in Charlotte, N.C., to preview the top-5 matchup of No. 3 Clemson versus No. 2 Notre Dame (4 p.m., ABC), GameDay also will mark its milestone 400th show.

“There are so many talented people behind and in front of the camera who have been a part of College GameDay over the years – this milestone is a testament to all of them, and their commitment to the show and the sport as a whole,” said Drew Gallagher, ESPN coordinating producer. “We have an unbelievable team who makes our traveling circus work each week, and we could not do one show without them, let alone 400.”

In 34 seasons, GameDay has traveled to 77 different schools and 92 different cities – from Fargo, N.D., to New York City and many other unique destinations. Always innovating and surprising, college football’s premier pregame show also has told countless impactful stories and been recognized as the best weekly show by the Sports Emmys 11 times. Fans also continue to look forward to analyst Lee Corso’s signature headgear pick each week (see video below), a tradition that started 25 years ago when Coach donned Ohio State’s Brutus mascot head.

To the fans, teams, schools and universities who have welcomed us each and every week, thank you for all the support. We do it all for you. We do it for the sport of college football. – ESPN SVP, Production, and former GameDay producer, Lee Fitting

Longtime former GameDay producer and current ESPN Senior Vice President of Production Lee Fitting shared: “Through the years, the thought process within College GameDay has always been simple, yet steadfast: the sport and its fans come first. It begins as a mindset. Then, it can become your identity. But for College GameDay, approaching Episode 400, it’s our soul. Our staff, past and present, are the caretakers of the show’s embodiment, and their devotion to that role is unwavering. To the fans, teams, schools and universities who have welcomed us each and every week, thank you for all the support. We do it all for you. We do it for the sport of college football.”

Since 2004, GameDay has also welcomed a celebrity guest picker each week to predict the college football weekend slate of games. Notable guest pickers have included Charles Barkley, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Katy Perry, Keegan-Michal Key, Mark Cuban, Eddie George, Bo Jackson, Bill Murray, Jack Nicklaus, Drew Brees, Alex Rodriguez, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Draymond Green, Phil Knight, Matthew McConaughey, Lil Wayne, LeBron James, Condeleezza Rice, and Trae Young, among many others.

(Illustration: Anna Negron/Photos: ESPN Images)
COLLEGE GAMEDAY BY THE NUMBERS

College GameDay’s Chris Fallica provides insight into the following:

  • School visited most
  • Ohio State (19 times)

  • School involved in the most CGD shows (home and away)
  • Home: Ohio State (19 times in Columbus)
    Away: Clemson (9 times in true road game)

  • Most visited CFB rivalry game
  • LSU-Alabama (11)

  • Corso first headgear pick
  • Oct. 5, 1996 – Ohio State vs Penn State

  • School/team Corso has picked the most
  • Alabama (34)

  • All-time headgear picks and Corso record
  • All-time: Saturday marks 363
    Record: 239-123
    Corso has picked 62 different schools with his headgear selections

  • First CGD road show
    Nov. 13, 1993 – Florida State at Notre Dame

  • Power 5 conference schools CGD has never visited
  • Cal, Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia

(Illustration: Anna Negron/ESPN)
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