ESPN’s College Gameday is in Virginia this week, but just not in Blacksburg. The three-hour Saturday morning show that leads into the noontime kickoffs is on the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg ahead of the Dukes’ game against Appalachian State University at 2 p.m.
College GameDay has arrived! pic.twitter.com/kdDSzkjVnZ
— Jarvis Haren (@jarvisharen) November 17, 2023
Made it to the ‘Burg‼️@CollegeGameDay | #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/ieNhPIfTH7
— Justin Willett (@JustinWillett00) November 17, 2023
The show’s normal cast and crew are in Virginia with host Reece Davis, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit, and Lee Corso are on site to kick off Week 12.
College Gameday has quite the story to talk about
There is quite the story that the gameday crew is going to tackle. James Madison is 10-0 this season and is sitting on top of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. NCAA rules bar James Madison from winning the conference championship, playing in a bowl game, or being ranked in the Top 25 because they are making the transition from FCS to FBS and are in the second year of the two-year transition.
The school appealed to the NCAA for a postseason eligibility waiver to be granted to play in the conference championship game in two weeks and then in a bowl game in December and were denied. If the Dukes won out, they would likely be in the running for a New Year’s Six bowl game.
Sources: The NCAA postseason waiver requests for James Madison, Jacksonville State and Tarleton State were rejected today. The NCAA Division I Board Administration Committee made the final decision, which echoed the conclusion of the three other committees that met on it.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 15, 2023
They could still be selected for a bowl game if there are not enough .500 teams at the end of the season according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
The trip to Virginia this week marks 30 years for ESPN on the road with their traveling bus and crew.
Saturday, @CollegeGameDay celebrates 30 years on the road in Harrisonburg, Va. ahead of @AppState_FB at undefeated @JMUFootball
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) November 17, 2023
Special guests
🏈 @JMUCurtCignetti & @JeffBrohm
🎤 @jonasbrothers & @baileyzimmerman
🎙️ Guest picker ➡️ @PFTCommenter
More: https://t.co/XxDRIOrt3r pic.twitter.com/WrWxGXwWmJ
The guest picker who joins the crew on the set in the final segment this week is Eric Sollenberger, known as PFT Commenter and he is a James Madison alum.
Excited to announce this week's guest picker: Pardon My Take and JMU's very own @PFTCommenter 👏 pic.twitter.com/zx6zjEsGZx
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 17, 2023
Having College Gameday in Virginia is nice, but it would be even better if it was in Blacksburg for the Hokies. One day, it’ll make its return to Virginia Tech.