ESPN College GameDay to Broadcast From BYU on Saturday

The popular college football pregame show will host its Saturday morning broadcast live from the campus of BYU in Provo.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Football

ESPN College GameDay to Broadcast From BYU on Saturday

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ESPN will air College GameDay live from the lawn of BYU's Heritage Halls at 7 a.m. MT this Saturday. The program will highlight the upcoming football matchup between No. 8 BYU and No. 2 Notre Dame.

Why it matters

The broadcast is scheduled to showcase a top-ten showdown between BYU and Notre Dame, drawing national attention to the Provo campus. It continues a series of high-profile ESPN visits to Utah involving analyst Pat McAfee.

The broadcast features the No. 8 ranked BYU football team against the No. 2 ranked Notre Dame team. The show is set to begin its live broadcast at 7 a.m. MT.

The players

Pat McAfee

He is an ESPN analyst who has become a prominent figure in sports media and is reportedly in contract talks for $60 million annually.

Ryan Smith

He is the owner of the Utah Jazz and Mammoth who has publicly engaged with media personalities regarding their comments on Utah culture.

Kyle Van Noy

He is a former BYU football player who has appeared on ESPN programming to discuss his collegiate and professional career.

Austin Collie

He is a former teammate of Pat McAfee from their time together on the Indianapolis Colts.

The details

Analyst Pat McAfee is central to the broadcast, having previously visited Utah for major games and maintained a high-profile presence on ESPN. The show follows past controversial interactions between McAfee and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a subject that has drawn public comment from Utah figures like Ryan Smith.

2022: Pat McAfee discussed his professional interactions with Austin Collie.
September 21, 2023: McAfee hosted an LDS Thursdays episode featuring Kyle Van Noy.
October 2023: Pat McAfee traveled to Utah for the Utah-Oregon game.
November 2023: Ryan Smith challenged McAfee regarding previous comments.
Saturday morning, 7 a.m. MT: College GameDay airs live from BYU campus.

Season Trajectory

This broadcast aligns with ESPN's strategy of visiting high-stakes games throughout the college football season. It mirrors the precedent set by the 2023 ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Salt Lake City by positioning Utah as a recurring destination for national media coverage.

Fans in Provo should expect significant crowds on the BYU campus surrounding the Heritage Halls area for the 7 a.m. MT live broadcast. The focus on the No. 8 versus No. 2 matchup highlights the high-stakes playoff implications for both teams ahead of kickoff.

The takeaway

The arrival of College GameDay underscores the rising national relevance of the BYU football program this season. Residents and students should plan for significant traffic and logistical changes around the campus area during the live broadcast window.