Which Wisconsin football games are most likely to host College GameDay?
The Badgers' schedule filled with some of the top programs in the country. What matchups are the most likely to bring College GameDay?
Since Luke Fickell arrived in 2023, the Wisconsin football team has struggled to meet the high expectations that accompanied his hiring. When he was hired, fans thought the Badgers were poised for success, contending for Big Ten championships and College Football Playoff appearances.
A successful team naturally draws eyes and attention, and with that attention often comes College GameDay, ESPN's premier Saturday morning pregame show.
The last time College GameDay was at a location featuring the Badgers was all the way back in 2021 when they faced off with Notre Dame at Soldier Field in Chicago, where the Badgers fell to the Irish, 41-13.
Before that, College GameDay made it to two Wisconsin games in 2019: at Minneapolis when the Badgers beat the Gophers 38-17 and then the Rose Bowl against Oregon, where the Badgers fell 28-27 to the Ducks.
Wisconsin has not hosted the national pregame show since 2017, when Michigan came to town and the Badgers handled the Wolverines 24-10, moving to 11-0 on the season.
So will this be the year that snaps the drought? Not likely, but if the Badgers were to appear in a game featured by the popular college football show, which one would it be?
Let’s group which games on the Badgers’ schedule would be the least likely to the most likely to attract College GameDay.
Don’t Even Think About It
Miami (OH), Middle Tennessee, Alabama, Maryland
When I took one look at the schedule, the first four games were automatically a no.
Matchups against Group of Five teams are never an exciting matchup, especially early in the season, when there are some big games between highly-ranked teams to kick off the season, so Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee are already off the table, not even given a second of thought.
The Alabama game may have been intriguing if the Badgers were more successful over the past couple of seasons. However, with expectations for Wisconsin at the lowest they have been in a long time, this game doesn’t seem very exciting. There are also a few other games that week that would likely garner more national attention, games like Texas A&M at Notre Dame and Florida at LSU.
After that, a Wisconsin-Maryland matchup isn’t that exciting, even if it is the Billy Edwards Jr. revenge game.
A Lot of Things Would Have to Go Right
Michigan, Iowa, Washington, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota
For some of these, the matchups just aren’t that exciting, at least based on our perception of the teams at this moment. Washington had a down year, Minnesota is Wisconsin with an easier schedule, and Iowa will be solid again, but not much of a powerhouse.
Indiana and Illinois could be popular matchups if the Badgers and Indiana/Illinois are all having a good season. But the week the Badgers play the Hoosiers, Alabama and Oklahoma play, and Texas will face off with Georgia. I don’t think Wisconsin-Indiana outdraws those games.
The Michigan game could be possible if both the Badgers and Wolverines entered the game undefeated. Yes, that means the Badgers would have beaten Alabama on the road in Tuscaloosa. If the Wolverines were undefeated, they would have beaten both Oklahoma and Nebraska on the road. If this were a battle of undefeated teams, I think it would have a good shot at being on College GameDay, but the chances of that happening are not very good.
It’s Possible If Wisconsin Has a Good Record
Ohio State, Oregon
Like the Michigan scenario, I think the only thing that would make a matchup with Ohio State and Oregon must-see television is if the Badgers are playing well above expectations and have a few signature wins. They may not need to be undefeated, but if Wisconsin can get a couple of wins out of the games against Alabama, Michigan, or Ohio State (in making the case for the Oregon game), it would make the Badgers a much more attractive option as an opponent.
Games that could potentially get in the way of a Wisconsin-Ohio State matchup on College GameDay would be Tennessee and Alabama, Ole Miss and Georgia, and USC and Notre Dame, three tough games to beat out.
The following week, when the Badgers are set to play Oregon in Eugene, there are also games between Texas A&M and LSU, Alabama and South Carolina, and Ole Miss and Georgia.
When it’s all said and done, the likeliest outcome is that the Badgers go another year without an appearance on College GameDay, which would be the program’s fourth year in a row. But you never know, if the Badgers do turn out to be a competitive team and start rattling off wins with the schedule of this difficulty, people will start taking notice.
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