ESPN announces special guests for ‘College GameDay’ ahead of Week 6

ESPN’s College GameDay will make its 21st trip to Tuscaloosa this weekend, broadcasting live from Denny Chimes on the campus of the University of Alabama. The pregame show airs Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN, building up to the SEC matchup between the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 16 undefeated Vanderbilt Commodores.

Host Rece Davis, an Alabama alum, returns for his 11th season alongside Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban. The crew also features Pete Thamel, Stanford Steve Coughlin, Jen Lada and Jess Sims. Strong viewership gains this fall have pushed ratings up 29 percent from 2024, with notable growth among women and younger audiences.

Saturday’s broadcast blends marquee guests, fan contests and signature features. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer will appear live, while North Carolina’s Bill Belichick checks in from Chapel Hill. Nick Saban will break down Miami’s defense in the film room, and classic rivalry moments between Florida State and Miami will be revisited. With Pat McAfee’s Kicking Contest returning and prizes throughout the morning, fans are expected to pack the quad early.

Kalen DeBoer, Miss Terry And Bill Belichick Highlight Guest Lineup

DeBoer, now in his second season in Tuscaloosa, joins the show before facing an undefeated Vanderbilt team that has scored 30-plus in every game. His Alabama tenure has already seen ups and downs, including a Week 1 loss to Florida State followed by a dominant rebound win. Saturday offers a chance to steady his program against a surging opponent.

The broadcast will also spotlight Terry Saban, known to Alabama fans as “Miss Terry.” In her last appearance, she outpicked her husband by one game, correctly backing Colorado over Central Florida. She currently leads all guest pickers with a 77.7 percent win rate, edging South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley.