When ESPN College GameDay rolls into Provo for Saturday’s BYU-Notre Dame matchup, it won’t just be a return visit. It’ll be a much bigger production than the last time the show came to town.
Back in 2009, ESPN arrived with three semi-trucks full of broadcast gear. This week, the network brought eight.
That kind of footprint tells the story of how much the operation has grown - and how much BYU has grown with it. Duff Tittle, who was basically handling everything himself when GameDay came to Provo 17 years ago, now has more help across the athletic department and can focus on coordinating the ESPN side of the equation.
“We didn’t have a social media team back then and we had just started video services,” Tittle recalled. “Our staff was so small and we had to manage the majority of what ESPN wanted from us.”
These days, Tittle said he can lean on Brett Pyne, the Associate Athletic Director for Football Strategic Communications, and Kenny Cox, the Assistant Athletic Director for Football Media Relations & Communications, while he handles the outside crew that comes with GameDay.
“I have to manage a completely separate production group and crew that are coming in,” Tittle said. “They give us advance notice about what their needs are and what technology they are bringing.
We’ve hosted two of the FOX shows (Big Noon Kickoff) and that has helped us. There are requests coming in for people on campus and getting approvals for everything.”
BYU has also spent time getting ready before the spotlight hits. Tittle said the school has moved technology around campus ahead of time so it’s already in place when ESPN arrives.
“Before if someone came to town we had to pull cable all over,” he said. “Now the trucks pull in and they can connect to the stadium, run their halftime show, whatever they need.”
He also pointed to help from Anna Metcalf, the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing & Fan Experience, and Matt Nix, the Associate Athletic Director, Events & Facilities, in getting everything lined up.
The logistics matter because College GameDay has become one of the biggest weekly draws in college sports media. Yahoo Sports reported the show is averaging 2.83 million viewers per episode this season, up 6% over a record-setting 2025.
For BYU, the setup starts Thursday, when the ESPN crew arrives with the trucks and begins building the stage. This time, the show is set for the front lawn of Heritage Halls, a change from the parking lot west of LaVell Edwards Stadium and one that gives the broadcast a view of the Wasatch Front.
Friday is the heavy prep day. Tittle meets with the producer, director and talent, and the staff works through what’s called a “car wash,” which includes time with the offensive and defensive coordinators and several student-athletes.
ESPN also usually does a few live shots on Friday before the full show opens at 7 a.m. Saturday.
That’s when the scene turns into the familiar GameDay circus.
The show has been on the air since 1987, originally with host Tim Brando and commentators Lee Corso and Beano Cook. It changed significantly in 1993 and began traveling regularly to campuses around the country. Corso started his mascot-headgear picks in 1996, and after his final headgear selection on August 30, 2025, the 91-year-old retired from the program.
Kirk Herbstreit, who joined the cast in 1996, is now the longest-tenured member of the show. The current lineup also includes host Rece Davis, Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban.
The atmosphere is built for noise and color. Fans pack in behind the set with flags and homemade signs, and BYU students were already camping out by Wednesday to secure the best spots. The crowd becomes part of the broadcast, along with cheerleaders, mascots and the chants - and boos - that come with a live college football stage.
There are a few traditions that travel everywhere with the show. A Washington State flag has appeared at 320 straight GameDay broadcasts since 2003, no matter the location. And the guest-picker segment remains one of the biggest draws at the end of the show.
In 2009, BYU legend LaVell Edwards made the pick. This time, it will be former Cougar and NFL quarterback Steve Young. Past guest pickers have included Charles Barkley, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bubba Watson, Keegan Michael-Key, Timothy Chalamet, Morgan Freeman, Duane “The Rock” Johnson, Kenny Chesney, Katy Perry, Stone Cold Steve Austin and even the Oregon Duck mascot.
For Tittle, who has served as the liaison with ESPN since 1999, the whole process has become a familiar kind of pressure.
“They always have treated us like we’re an important partner in the process,” he said. “They have been amazing.
When they roll into town a lot has to happen in a short period of time and they are so gracious. That makes it easy.
It’s quite the experience for someone in my field to have College GameDay here. It’s a dream to be able to be involved in it.
It’s a lot of work, but ultimately it’s worth it at the end of the week to see it all come together.”
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