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RU ESPN Gameday Host 2024 - which game could it be?

ScarletKid2008

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Sep 8, 2006
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Rutgers is still one of less than a handful of power conference schools to yet host.

If this season turns the way we hope and some experts are predicting…

Which 2024 game is most likely for RU to host ESPN game day ?!

You have to factor in things like
- RU record and momentum at that point
- the opponent likely has to be ranked
- what other big games nationally would contend that weekend
- what network is carrying that game

Which game is our best chance to host in 2024???
 
I thought about this.. if we made it to 6-0 there's a chance.. but a slim chance.. October 19 they would likely go to Texas for Georgia at Texas. They probably have that written in stone right now. They also have Bama at the Vols. We'd host UCLA.. which would be interesting bi-coastal game for an historic location Gameday has not yet visited.

If we go to 8-0 and USC is playing well.. they would likely do something special for RU at USC. If we win that then we return home to host Minnesota.. not a great game for them but the game would be on the Nov 9 anniversary date of the 2006 Louisville game.

But they would have many ranked vs ranked games to choose from.. most on ESPN/ABC channels. Georgia at Ole Miss.. Bama at LSU.. Oklahoma at Mizzou... and that's if we're a miracle 8-0...

It ain't happening. Oct 12 Wisky at Rutgers? If we are 5-0? They got Ole Miss at LSU, OSU at Oregon, Ole Miss at LSU, Penn State at USC
 
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ESPN doesn’t have the broadcast rights to B1G games, doubtful they will ever have game day at RU
I have seen them do a game they didn't have last year.. surprised me.. was it a Notre Dame game? Or THE GAME.. OSU-Meechigan.. one of them
 
I thought about this.. if we made it to 6-0 there's a chance.. but a slim chance.. October 19 they would likely go to Texas for Georgia at Texas. They probably have that written in stone right now. They also have Bama at the Vols. We'd host UCLA.. which would be interesting bi-coastal game for an historic location Gameday has not yet visited.

If we go to 8-0 and USC is playing well.. they would likely do something special for RU at USC. If we win that then we return home to host Minnesota.. not a great game for them but the game would be on the Nov 9 anniversary date of the 2006 Louisville game.

But they would have many ranked vs ranked games to choose from.. most on ESPN/ABC channels. Georgia at Ole Miss.. Bama at LSU.. Oklahoma at Mizzou... and that's if we're a miracle 8-0...

It ain't happening. Oct 12 Wisky at Rutgers? If we are 5-0? They got Ole Miss at LSU, OSU at Oregon, Ole Miss at LSU, Penn State at USC

Good analysis.
It feels like RU would have to be undefeated or one loss in Oct to be a national story .

The Oct 12 weekend when we play Wisc has too many other juicy matchups for ESPN.

The UCLA game maybe. But both teams would have to be ranked in the teens at a minimum for that to even get considered.

I don’t think even if RU does it’s part, either of those games would be selected.

Seems like RU would have to complete an incredible year and carry all that momentum in 2025 for a chance.
 
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Big Noon Kickoff on FOX is probably the best bet IF RU can win some games and have a fast start to a season.
And Big Noon Kickoff is a great show that is getting a lot of fanfare behind it at teh venues as well.

Always found it a little strange that the Gameday primary sponsor, Home Depot, founded by a Rutgers alum, would show ZERO love for Rutgers.. even as they mentioned last year trying to go places they have missed for Lee Corso.
 
And Big Noon Kickoff is a great show that is getting a lot of fanfare behind it at teh venues as well.

Always found it a little strange that the Gameday primary sponsor, Home Depot, founded by a Rutgers alum, would show ZERO love for Rutgers.. even as they mentioned last year trying to go places they have missed for Lee Corso.

It’s been said on the boards many times. The Home Depot guy apparently feels absolutely no connection to RU. And supports other schools.

Also that’s a stretch for an executive from a sponsor (albeit their primary) would have input or even influence over location choices which the producers make based on appeal to the national audience.

RU just hasn’t hosted enough of those games. We haven’t beaten a ranked team in 12+ seasons. And we haven’t been ranked ourselves in same amount of time.

There was a short window from 2006-2012 where the team was nationally relevant. And we had many of our prime home games moved to Thursday during that stretch.
 
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Who cares about ESPN. They are continually losing their grip on college football. We just need to win. If we do I hope we never get on that horrible network. They can just focus on Coach Prime.
Boy that is kind of irrational. Not only do they have a huge market of games during the regular season, they have exclusive rights to the 12 team playoff, which may be one of the most viewed sporting events in total in the US this year.
 
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Rutgers is still one of less than a handful of power conference schools to yet host.

If this season turns the way we hope and some experts are predicting…

Which 2024 game is most likely for RU to host ESPN game day ?!

You have to factor in things like
- RU record and momentum at that point
- the opponent likely has to be ranked
- what other big games nationally would contend that weekend
- what network is carrying that game

Which game is our best chance to host in 2024???
nothing planned at our place
 
If only we had some historically elite teams on the home schedule such as, and I’m throwing just random darts here, OSU or Michigan or PSU.

That would probably entice Gameday to come to Rutgers.

Hard to complain about not being the marquee matchup of the week when we (happily?) avoid the other marquee teams at home.
 

When they went to Duke last year for ND at Duke.. there was story about P5 places they haven't been to. We are among the last 6.​

Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Big Ten​

The Scarlet Knights aren't what they used to be, but at some point, they were a somewhat powerful Big Ten school. Back in 1869, they won their first and only national title. Between 1958 and 1961, arguably their more successful period, they won three division titles. Their more recent success was a 2012 conference title.

Illinois Fighting Illini - Big Ten​

This is perplexing, as the Fighting Illini were a proper national powerhouse in the 20th century. They have five national titles (1914, 1919, 1923, 1927 and 1951), admittedly none while "College GameDay" has been a thing. However, they have 15 conference titles, several after the program started airing. They last won the Big Ten title in 2001.

Maryland Terrapins - Big Ten​

Lee Corso and Co. seem to hold something against the Big Ten. However, in this case, it seems justified, as the Terrapins have won only one national title in 1953, although they have 11 conference titles. They had an unclaimed national championship in 1951.

Syracuse Orange - ACC​

The way things are going, it looks unlikely the show will go to upstate New York any time soon. Syracuse has had significant success in the late 90s and early 2000s, with three conference titles between 1996 and 2004. The school won another in 2012, although its highest achievement is the 1959 national title.

Virginia Cavaliers - ACC​

The Virginia Cavaliers have won five conference titles, all in the last century, and one division title recently in 2019. They have never won a national championship, and an 8-13 bowl record explains why the school has never attracted national attention. It's also the only school on this list to have never won a national title.

California Golden Bears - Pac-12​

California's football glories belong almost exclusively to the distant past. They've won seven national titles, but the most recent was in 1937. They also have 14 conference titles. Although "College GameDay" could've visited while Marshawn Lynch was there. He was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year once.
 
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