ESPN's College GameDay Confirms First Two Stops Of 2026 Season

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated May 12, 2026 5:51 PM ET

Although it's not really a huge surprise, the 40th season of ESPN's "College GameDay" will kick off in style.

ESPN announced on Tuesday that "College GameDay" will begin the 2026 season covering a Week 1 showdown between Clemson and LSU. These two programs met last year, with LSU defeating Clemson 17-10 in what was supposed to be a playoff preview. However, both teams failed to make the College Football Playoff.

After wrapping up its Week 1 show, "College GameDay" will shift its focus over to Ohio State and Texas. Those two national title contenders will square off on Sept. 12 in Austin.

"ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will kick off its 40th season with a milestone event – its 500th show on the road – on Saturday, Sept. 5, from Baton Rouge, La. ahead of LSU’s marquee Week 1 matchup against Clemson. The three-hour season premiere of college football’s premier pregame show will air live at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN and ESPNU from LSU’s campus, marking the show’s 15th visit to Baton Rouge," the network said in a press release.

"Following Baton Rouge, College GameDay will travel to Austin, Texas on Sept. 12 for a battle of powerhouse programs in Week 2 as the Texas Longhorns host Ohio State in a rematch of last season’s 14-7 Buckeyes’ win in Columbus. The same two programs also faced each other in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in January 2025."

Kirk Herbstreit sounded off. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images&period;

Is this the right move by ESPN?

Judging by some of the responses online, fans were hoping "College GameDay" wouldn't visit two SEC schools to kick off the 2026 season.

"Can’t wait for college football to get here! Great start to the season. Oh I wish I could be at that Ohio State / Texas game. That place is going to be wild," one fan said.

"Exciting if it wasn't two of the same colleges they always go to," a second fan argued.

"So almost guaranteed to be SEC schools the first three weeks. That sucks," another fan wrote.

At the end of the day, we expect "College GameDay" to generate impressive ratings this September.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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