Tennessee is back in the nation’s top 15 and preparing for Saturday’s matchup with Akron following its road win at Pitt.
While the team’s focus in on Akron, it’s hard not to look ahead to the Florida matchup with Tennessee opening as 50-point favorites against the Zips.
The matchup against the Gators is one of the program’s biggest in years as Josh Heupel and his team have a chance to relinquish the demons tied to this rivalry matchup.
It will certainly be a rowdy scene in Knoxville for the CBS 3:30 p.m. ET kick off, but could College Gameday be in attendance?
The premier college football preview show hits the road each week and the Vols and Gators meet in one of the most intriguing matchups in week four of the college season.
So, which games could also earn a visit from ESPN’s top college football show?
Two weeks ahead of the matchup, there are three ranked games on the day and three other games that are in the hunt to earn a trip from gameday.
No. 19 Wake Forest hosting No. 5 Clemson is the other premier candidate to host College Gameday. If the Demon Deacons get past Liberty this week, the game is likely to be between two unbeaten teams.
No. 10 Arkansas versus No. 24 Texas A&M is another ranked matchup, but the teams are playing at a neutral-site in Dallas. College Gameday has gone to plenty of neutral site games in its long history but they typically avoid them.
More From RTI: Tennessee Player Named SEC Defensive Lineman Of Week
Three other intriguing games on Sept. 24: No. 3 Ohio State hosts Wisconsin, Oregon State hosts No. 7 USC and No. 6 Oklahoma hosts Kansas State.
College Gameday has already been to Columbus this season so that game seems unlikely. All four of Oregon State, USC, Oklahoma and Kansas State could be unbeaten, but neither of those games will have the same buzz as No. 15 Tennessee vs. No. 18 Florida.
Tennessee-Florida being a CBS game doesn’t help them land the ESPN preview show but College Gameday isn’t afraid to go to non ESPN broadcasts. Just last week, College Gameday was at Texas for the Longhorns matchup with Alabama. Fox broadcasted the tight contest between Texas and the top-ranked Crimson Tide.
The last time College Gameday came to Knoxville was for the 2016 Florida game. CBS broadcasted that matchup.
A week ahead of ESPN’s decision, Tennessee-Florida and Wake Forest-Clemson feel like to the two best candidates.
Before the Vols completely turn their gaze to the Gators, they must handle Akron. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. ET with ESPN+ streaming the game.
One Response
No. Stay away and take Peyton Manning with them wherever else they decide to go. We don’t need any bad juju.