College GameDay is headed to Baton Rouge for Week 1, and the show is bringing a Louisiana star with it.
Lainey Wilson has been named the celebrity guest picker for Saturday’s broadcast ahead of No. 11 LSU’s matchup with Clemson, and she’ll be back on home turf while doing it. The country music superstar also is set to perform live during the show.
“What’s going on, Baton Rouge? I am coming home to Louisiana this weekend to be your College GameDay celebrity guest picker and I’m gonna sing a few songs,” Wilson said in a video message.
“I can’t wait to be on LSU’s campus cheering on my Tigers. Come on out.
The show starts at 8 a.m., so drink your coffee. Go Tigers!”
College GameDay confirmed the news in a post on September 3, 2026, noting that the Louisiana native and College GameDay anthem singer will be the first celebrity guest picker of the season.
The Week 1 stop arrives as GameDay opens its 40th season. Rece Davis is back as host, with Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban and “Stanford Steve” Coughlin among the on-air crew. Jen Lada, Jess Sims and Pete Thamel are also part of the reporting team.
The show will begin at 8 a.m. CT/9 a.m.
ET, and it will preview a major one for LSU: the Bayou Bengals’ home date with Clemson and the live GameDay appearance from Lane Kiffin. The game itself is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
ET on ABC.
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