Bryce Young is heading back to Tuscaloosa in a new role this weekend, and it’s one that puts him in the spotlight on college football’s biggest stage.
The Carolina Panthers quarterback has been picked as the celebrity guest picker for ESPN’s “College Gameday” on Saturday, Oct. 10, with the announcement coming Thursday on “The Pat McAfee Show.” Young, who is now in his fourth year with the Panthers, will join the pregame show as Alabama prepares for a highly anticipated matchup with Georgia.
“I’m excited,” Young told McAfee. “I’m trying to do my research, figure stuff out ... It’s always fun to watch [College Gameday], so to be able to be a part of it is definitely a blessing.
“That place is special. It’s always going to be a great environment, great atmosphere.
Being able to play there was fun, now being able to go back and watch it from the outside ... I’m super excited for it.”
Young’s connection to Alabama is deep. The former Heisman Trophy winner played for the Crimson Tide from 2020-2022, helped lead them to an SEC championship in 2021 and a national championship appearance that same season. His run in Tuscaloosa was strong enough to help convince the Panthers to trade up to No. 1 overall in 2023 to draft him.
Now he’ll be back on campus while Carolina is on its bye week, with “College Gameday” set for a visit that comes after the show averaged more than 2.9 million viewers the week before. Because of expected weather impacts from Hurricane Isaias, the show will air from inside Alabama’s basketball arena.
The program runs from 9 a.m. to noon EST on ESPN, and Young’s appearance and picks are scheduled for the final half hour.
He arrives there in the middle of the best start to a season of his NFL career. Young just helped Carolina edge the Detroit Lions 32-26 on Sunday Night Football in Week 4, and he currently leads the league in passing yards while sitting tied for third in touchdown passes.
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