A visit from ESPN’s College GameDay has become one of the biggest honors in college football. It’s ESPN’s way of saying — both to the university and to the nation — that out of the 128 FBS programs (and North Dakota State), your football team is worthy of being recognized, the university is worthy of national TV and the fan base deserves respect.
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It should come as no surprise that the GameDay crew graces SEC schools with its presence so often. In fact, the SEC has hosted College GameDay more times to date than any other conference.
In anticipation of a brand-new season of college football and College GameDay, let’s look back at the last time each SEC school hosted the GameDay crew.
ALABAMA
Date: Nov. 29, 2014
Game: No. 15 Auburn vs. No. 2 Alabama
College GameDay visited Tuscaloosa twice during 2014, and both games were very good choices. But nothing beats the drama of an Iron Bowl, especially with the scoring frenzy that ensued, resulting in a 55-44 Alabama win.
ARKANSAS
Date: Nov. 11, 2006
Game: No. 13 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Arkansas
The GameDay crew hopped on the Razorbacks bandwagon as Arkansas rose in the ranks that season to SEC West champions. Since it’s been a while and since Arkansas may be on the rise again, perhaps College GameDay will head to Fayetteville this season.
AUBURN
Date: Nov. 30, 2013
Game: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Auburn
One of the most insane plays in college football history happened in Jordan-Hare Stadium that day, when Auburn’s Chris Davis caught a missed Alabama field goal at the back of his own end zone and returned it all the way back for a touchdown and the win in the final second of the game.
FLORIDA
Date: Oct. 20, 2012
Game: No. 9 South Carolina vs. No. 3 Florida
It’s no surprise that the last time the crew paid a visit to Gainesville, Fla., the Gators were thriving. It’s also no surprise that when Florida plummeted to 4-8 in 2013, College GameDay steered clear.
GEORGIA
Date: Sept. 28, 2013
Game: No. 6 LSU vs. No. 9 Georgia
The Tigers marched into Athens as a potential national championship team. The Bulldogs were not intimidated and knocked them off in a close game, 44-41.
KENTUCKY
Date: Oct. 20, 2007
Game: No. 14 Florida vs. No. 8 Kentucky
The Wildcats had just come off the most miraculous upset of No. 1 LSU in triple-overtime. Unfortunately, Kentucky could not rally to beat Florida. And so the longest losing streak to an opponent in SEC history lives on.
LSU
Date: Oct. 25, 2014
Game: No. 3 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 LSU
The Tigers playing as underdogs against the Rebels? That was a storyline College GameDay could not pass up. And the news veritably reported itself when LSU upset Ole Miss 10-7.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Date: Oct. 11, 2014
Game: No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 3 Mississippi State
The first and last time College GameDay visited Starkville was for this game, a No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchup no one had ever anticipated. After the Bulldogs won, they became No. 1 in the polls for the first time in school history.
MISSOURI
Date: Oct. 23, 2010
Game: No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 18 Missouri
The last time College GameDay visited Missouri’s campus, the Tigers were still part of the Big 12 and busy putting a damper on Bob Stoops’ plans at Oklahoma.
OLE MISS
Date: Oct. 4, 2014
Game: No. 3 Alabama vs. No. 11 Ole Miss
Last season was also the first time the GameDay crew stopped in Oxford, Miss. The Rebels rewarded them for their choice by upsetting the Crimson Tide, 23-17.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Date: Sept. 27, 2014
Game: Missouri vs. No. 14 South Carolina
College GameDay intuited the demise of the Gamecocks as they pulled into Columbia. By the time they left, Steve Spurrier had been beaten at home by an unranked team.
TENNESSEE
Date: Sept. 15, 2012
Game: No. 18 Florida vs. No. 23 Tennessee
I’m sure the question College GameDay asked here was, “Can the Volunteers finally beat the Gators?” The answer: still no.
TEXAS A&M
Date: Sept. 14, 2013
Game: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 6 Texas A&M
The Aggies’ rise through the ranks of the SEC was unprecedented, thanks in large part to Johnny Football. It’s no wonder the GameDay crew was curious as to whether the Aggies could run with the big boys or if they’d get crushed by the Crimson Tide.
VANDERBILT
Date: Oct. 4, 2008
Game: No. 13 Auburn vs. No. 19 Vanderbilt
After the Commodores got out to a 4-0 start to the season, College GameDay thought it was finally time to set up camp in Nashville. Good thing too, because Vandy continued its win streak by upsetting Auburn in this game.
Christine Wang is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. She covers Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
