KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – College football’s epicenter resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, this weekend as the 11th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers open Southeastern Conference play against the 20th-ranked Florida Gators at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday in Neyland Stadium.
ESPN’s College GameDay is on campus for the 10th time and the first since 2016. College football’s most celebrated pregame show will originate from the lawn at Ayres Hall from 9 a.m. to noon ET Saturday.
Fans are encouraged to show up to the lawn at Ayres Hall for Friday programming. Live shots and taping for ESPN family of networks programming on the main set get underway at 11:15 a.m. The Pat McAfee Show airs live on YouTube from 1 to 2 p.m. followed by College Football Live on ESPN2 from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
On Saturday, access to the College GameDay pit — located immediately behind the stage — opens at 6:30 a.m. Programming begins with live shots on ESPN SportsCenter at 7:45 a.m.
ESPN’s social and digital pre-pregame show, Countdown to GameDay Live, airs from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. The show is available on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and the ESPN App.
The main College GameDay Show launches at 9 a.m. on ESPN and ESPNU. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel will make a live appearance at approximately 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Rece Davis leads the show in his eighth season as host and is joined at the desk by GameDay analysts Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, David Pollack and Pat McAfee. Reporters Jen Lada, Tennessee alum Gene Wojciechowski and newcomer Jess Sims, along with research producer Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica and college football insider Pete Thamel, round out the GameDay crew.
In addition, FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will be featuring live shots from Knoxville during the 10 a.m. to noon show. Barstool Sports’ College Football Show will broadcast live at 1:30 p.m. off campus.
CBS live pregame coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell will have the call at 3:30 p.m.
A sold-out, #CheckerNeyland crowd awaits Saturday’s SEC opener.
Fans are encouraged to wear orange or white, depending on their seat location. To find out if your seat section is orange or white, go to CheckerNeyland.com and enter your section/row/seat number as it appears on your digital ticket. Fans in the North End Zone Party Deck are encouraged to wear white.
Fans are strongly encouraged to arrive early and have their digital parking passes and tickets ready. Gate 21 Will Call opens at 11:30 a.m., and gates to Neyland Stadium open at 1:30 p.m. Fans without a game ticket are welcome to attend the Toyota Vol Village watch party.
For more information, visit UTsports.com/gameday.
Ayres Hall Lawn Schedule of Events (all times Eastern)
Friday, September 23
11:15 a.m. – Live and taped segments for ESPN programming on main set begin
1-2 p.m. – Pat McAfee Show (airs live on YouTube)
3-3:30 p.m. – College Football Live (airs live on ESPN2; re-airs on ESPN2 at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and on ESPNU at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.)
Saturday, September 24
6:30 a.m. – ESPN College GameDay pit opens
7:45 a.m. – ESPN SportsCenter live shots begin (airs live on ESPN)
8:30 a.m. – Countdown to GameDay Live (digital show that airs live on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and the ESPN App)
9 a.m.-noon – ESPN College GameDay (airs live on ESPN and ESPNU)
10:30 a.m. – Head Coach Josh Heupel live on ESPN College GameDay set
-UT Athletics
