The Virginia Cavaliers found the fire escape in the final moments of another nail-biter — this time, in what was a 17-16 rock fight down in Chapel Hill. Now, sitting at 7-1 (4-0 ACC) and 15th in the newest
AP Poll, the ‘Hoos head west this week to face a capable California team. We’ll have more on that matchup soon enough. In the meantime, let’s fast forward two weeks into the future, where the ‘Hoos are set to welcome Wake Forest for another night kickoff that has the potential to make history hours before.
No, this isn’t a joke; there is a legitimate pathway for ESPN’s College Gameday to make what would be its first appearance in Charlottesville for a football game, but what needs to happen to make that a reality, and where else might the show head to instead?
First and foremost, the two most important outcomes for this week — UVA needs to take care of business (preferably by multiple scores) at Cal. And, judging by past Gameday host decisions, a win from its future opponent in Wake Forest wouldn’t hurt either. The Deacs handed SMU its first-ever regular season ACC loss a week ago and travel to Tallahassee for a primetime showdown against an out-of-sorts Florida State team, which enters the matchup coming off a bye week.
In addition to UVA-Wake Forest, four other notable games around the country could vie for a chance at landing Gameday, two of which currently stand as ranked-versus-ranked matchups. A look at the case for and against each of those games:
Wake Forest @ #15 Virginia
The case for Gameday: The ‘Hoos remain one of the best stories in college football this season. After a 5-win season in 2024, things have turned quickly in the right direction with an ACC title game berth firmly in the realm of possibility for Tony Elliott’s team. UVA is one of six power-four schools to have never hosted the pregame show for football, so what better time than the present to make that happen during one of the best seasons the ‘Hoos have had in years?
The case against: UVA and Wake could both drop games in week 10, making it unlikely for the show to choose to head to Charlottesville. The show simply might be more drawn to these other games below with larger, more football-rabid fanbases.
No. 3 Texas A&M @ No. 19 Missouri
The case for: This is the best game of what is otherwise a not-so-great SEC slate. Gameday has been to five SEC schools so far this season, so would anyone be surprised to see a sixth? Especially at a non-traditional powerhouse like Missouri?
The case against: Missouri, albeit as the away team, was just a part of Gameday this past weekend in Nashville, ultimately falling to Vanderbilt. It isn’t crazy to think ESPN could be against the idea of going to multiple games involving the Tigers in such a short span. The hype-train also undoubtedly dies down for a Gameday trip with that Vandy loss, and depending on how you look at the number of SEC appearances, maybe the show will just want to mix things up in week 11?
No. 10 BYU @ No. 13 Texas Tech
The case for: I’d tab this as the leader in the clubhouse at this point. Tied for third in the Big-12 at 7-1 overall, Texas Tech has been resurgent, thanks to a transfer haul of its own, while BYU remains undefeated heading into week 10. The implications of this game for the Big-12 race make it all the more intriguing — and it’ll be on one of ESPN’s networks.
The case against: Gameday is headed to Salt Lake City for Cincinnati-Utah this week, so you’d think the show going to two straight Big 12 games would be unlikely. Overall, there aren’t many reasons to think this doesn’t end up being the site for week 11, other than that or a Texas Tech loss this week.
No.6 Oregon @ Iowa
The case for: The Ducks have successfully picked themselves up off the mat after losing to Indiana and remain one of the best teams in college football at 7-1. Iowa’s looked solid as of late, ripping off three-straight wins after a close loss to then No. 11 Indiana. The game time has yet to be announced, but a potential night game in Kinnick Stadium could be an attractive one for the show to highlight. Regardless of the time, that atmosphere is usually electric against ranked teams.
The case against: Aside from the fact that it’ll be cold in Iowa City, I’d be shocked if this ends up being the decision. Oregon already hosted the show earlier this year when Indiana came to town and was involved as the away team for the show’s appearance at Penn State’s white out game in late September. Iowa sits at 6-2 and boasts one of the better environments in the Big Ten, so that might add some pull. Iowa City has notably hosted the show twice as well. Overall, I’d peg this game as the least likely of the four, not having as much to do with the game itself, but Oregon’s prior involvement in the show this season.
Navy @ No. 12 Notre Dame
The case for: Navy is undefeated and sits barely outside of the polls, while the stakes for the Irish remain high every week in their quest for a playoff spot as a two-loss team. The Navy-ND rivalry is full of history, and anytime the Midshipmen are playing well, there’s reason to want to highlight this game, especially with it being on Notre Dame’s campus.
The case against: Gameday was in South Bend for last season’s first-ever home CFP game, so a return trip so soon might be out of the cards, but certainly not impossible. Despite Navy’s great start, this year’s meeting could be yet another example of Notre Dame remaining miles ahead of the Midshipmen from a talent perspective (like last year’s game). Still, you never know in today’s college football landscape, I suppose.
Two of these potential hosts are set to play games in week 10. Notre Dame, who travels to Boston College, and Texas Tech, which faces a sneaky Kansas State team. Missouri and Iowa are both on byes this week, in addition to Missouri’s week 11 opponent, Texas A&M. BYU and Oregon are off this week as well, which, all in all, isn’t great for UVA’s sake to get the show, given that the bulk of these teams won’t have opportunities to pick up momentum-crushing losses, but losses by any of the teams involved in these four notable games would be helpful in some way.
ESPN has shown a willingness to go to places where the show’s never been before in past seasons, so it’s not out of the cards that an 8-1 UVA and 6-2 Wake Forest contest is enough to move the needle as is. We’ll find out this weekend, one way or another.
