No ‘College GameDay’ on Week 0; ESPN Airs Studio Special Instead

DUBLIN & BRISTOL, Aug. 23, 2025 – For the first time in its 39-year history, ESPN’s College GameDay did not air on Week 0. Instead, it featured a studio special, giving fans a new way to kick off the season.【【1】

The weekly road show, which traditionally travels to the marquee opening matchup, skipped this weekend’s No. 21 Iowa State vs. No. 20 Kansas State game at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Insiders point to two main reasons for the decision: the high costs of overseas broadcasts and Lee Corso’s upcoming retirement. Next week, Corso will make his final headgear pick in Columbus.【【1】【3】

ESPN chose not to do on-location coverage. Instead, it aired a two-hour College Football Countdown from its Bristol, Conn., studios right after SportsCenter./strong>. Rece Davis, E.J. Manuel, and Roddy Jones hosted the show. They shared analysis and live updates from Aviva Stadium ahead of the noon kickoff.

Fox’s competing pregame show, Big Noon Kickoff, likewise postponed its launch until Week 1, setting the stage for a head-to-head faceoff with College GameDay on August 30 in Columbus, Ohio, for the No. 1 Texas vs. No. 3 Ohio State showdown.【【5】

Why Week 0 Was Dark for Pregame Shows

• Cost factors: Sending the full GameDay crew to Ireland was found to be too pricey.
• Corso’s farewell: At 90, he’s retiring and won’t travel abroad for his last appearance.
• Both networks seem set to boost their efforts for the big Week 1 Texas–Ohio State game. They are maximizing resources and building viewer excitement.

Fans wanting early game insights tuned into studio shows. Next Saturday, they can look forward to the lively energy of College GameDay and Big Noon Kickoff for the national showcase.