South Carolina stole College GameDay from Kentucky

Sep 16, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; A general view of the ESPN College GameDay set prior to the game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports — (Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports)

Lexington was seen as the betting favorite to host ESPN’s College GameDay next weekend going into Saturday’s slate of games. It’s a light schedule in Week 3 with few ranked matchups, making No. 1 Georgia’s trip to Kentucky an enticing one for Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban — on paper, at least.

In fact, ESPN’s Stanford Steve teased a potential trip to Lexington for GameDay on a podcast with Scott Van Pelt last week.

“I’m thinking Kentucky’s going to beat South Carolina next week. GameDay could possibly be in Lexington for Georgia’s visit, which will be fun because that place gets as jazzed up as anybody. But when 7:30 Eastern comes, let’s see what you got. Coach Stoops will be fired up for that opportunity,” he said. “I really want that to happen. I would love to see that because there’s nothing better than the No. 1 team on the road. It sets up for a great atmosphere. It’s what makes college football great.”

Sounds awesome, doesn’t it?

Fast forward to late Saturday evening when College GameDay announced it will, in fact, be heading to the campus of the winner between Kentucky and South Carolina. It just won’t be Lexington, thanks to the Wildcats’ embarrassing 31-6 loss to the Gamecocks.

Instead, GameDay will be in Columbia, SC for USC’s matchup vs. LSU next weekend. It’s the first time the prestigious college football preview show will head to South Carolina in 10 years.

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COLUMBIA, SC📍

For the first time in 10 years, we're headed to South Carolina for @LSUfootball–@GamecockFB 👀 pic.twitter.com/ZOCZ9DAjTr
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 8, 2024

Meanwhile, Kentucky’s streak of 17 years without hosting College GameDay will continue, despite Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe all being in town for the call next week with ABC.

It would’ve been convenient for ESPN to make Lexington a one-stop shop. It also would’ve been convenient for Kentucky to take care of business as a two-score favorite against South Carolina.

Unfortunately, neither of those things happened.