COLUMBIA — For the first time in 10 years, ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be live from Columbia, ahead of South Carolina football against LSU.
Kickoff is scheduled Saturday at 12:12 p.m. ET on ABC, but “College GameDay” will be live from 9 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN and ESPNU.
The show will be set up in Gamecock Park, located at 1400 Greene Street. From 11 a.m. to noon, the show will move inside Williams-Brice Stadium.
According to ESPN, shuttles start at 5:45 a.m. from the Russell House, and are free for students with a CarolinaCard and $5 for fans.
The pre-show will feature the usual crew of host Rece Davis, and analysts Lee Corso, Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban.
The guest picker is South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.
Here’s everything to know about Saturday’s “College GameDay” events:
SCOUTING REPORT: South Carolina football vs LSU score prediction, scouting report for Week 3
Schedule, guests and highlights for “College GameDay” on Saturday in Columbia
-
Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish will join the show and “offer a special performance” according to ESPN. Rucker’s band formed after he met Hootie and the Blowfish bandmates while they were students at South Carolina. He served as guest picker in September 2023 when South Carolina faced North Carolina in Charlotte.
-
South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley will be guest picker.
-
South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer will join the “GameDay” desk.
-
Mayor Daniel Rickenmann will officially declare Saturday “ESPN College GameDay Saturday in the City of Columbia.” He will present the key to the city to Corso.
-
Saban, the former Alabama football coach who is in his first year with the show, will have his usual “Coach’s Film Room” segment, and breakdown parts of South Carolina’s offense.
-
McAfee’s kicking contest will be during the live show in Columbia. One fan who arrives early enough will be chosen from the pit (the crowd behind the desk) and will have the opportunity to attempt a 33-yard field goal. If the kick is good, they will be awarded $45,000 from McAfee.
-
ESPN writer Ryan McGee will explore the history of the iconic song “Sandstorm,” that is played before every football game in Williams-Brice Stadium.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: What to know about ‘College GameDay’ in Columbia, including Darius Rucker
