The College Football Playoff is here, and this year’s expanded 12-team format is ready to deliver a weekend packed with high-stakes matchups and wall-to-wall action. Round 1 kicks off Friday, Dec. 19, and with it comes a double dose of ESPN’s College GameDay-two shows, two cities, and a whole lot of football energy.
Let’s break down what fans can expect, from the marquee matchups to the GameDay locations, special guests, and storylines that have been building all season long.
Two GameDay Shows, Two Electric Environments
For the first time this playoff season, College GameDay is going live from two separate locations, starting Friday night in Norman, Oklahoma, and rolling into Saturday morning in College Station, Texas. The crew-Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, and Kirk Herbstreit-will be on the move, and so will the playoff energy.
Friday Night Lights in Norman: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
📍 Location: South Oval, University of Oklahoma
🕕 Time: 6 p.m.
ET on ESPN
🏈 Matchup: No.
9 Alabama vs. No.
8 Oklahoma
🎤 Guest Picker: Brian Bosworth
The Friday night show sets the stage for a heavyweight clash between two storied programs with playoff aspirations and unfinished business. Oklahoma hosts Alabama in a rematch that’s still fresh in both teams' minds. The Sooners edged the Tide 23-21 in Tuscaloosa back in mid-November-a statement win that helped punch their ticket to the playoff.
And if recent history is any indicator, Oklahoma has had Alabama’s number. The last time these two met in Norman, the Sooners dominated 24-3. Now, under the playoff spotlight, they’ll try to do it again.
Oklahoma enters the postseason at 10-2, while Alabama comes in at 10-3 after falling to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. The Tide will be looking to bounce back, but they’ll have to do it in a hostile environment against a team that’s already proven it can go toe-to-toe with them.
College GameDay will be posted up on the South Oval, right in the heart of campus, and Friday’s guest picker brings serious Sooner swagger-Brian Bosworth. The former Oklahoma linebacker and 1985 national champion is back in Norman to help fire up the crowd.
Saturday Morning in College Station: Miami vs. Texas A&M
📍 Location: College Station, Texas
🕘 Time: 9 a.m.
ET on ESPN
🏈 Matchup: No.
10 Miami vs. No.
7 Texas A&M
🎤 Guest Picker: Johnny Manziel
After wrapping up the Friday night show, the GameDay crew heads 357 miles south to College Station for Saturday morning’s broadcast. Expect a raucous crowd as the Aggies get set to host Miami in a clash between two 10-win teams with plenty to prove.
Texas A&M comes into the playoff with an 11-1 record and the No. 7 seed, and they’re listed as a slight 3.5-point favorite. Miami, at 10-2, has been one of the more balanced teams in the field, and this matchup has all the makings of a grind-it-out battle.
Saturday’s GameDay guest picker? None other than Aggie legend Johnny Manziel. The 2012 Heisman winner and one of the most electrifying players in college football history will be back in College Station to lend his voice-and his picks-to the show.
How to Watch College GameDay
- Friday, Dec. 19 ⏰ Start Time: 6 p.m. ET 📺 ESPN | 📱 Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo
- Saturday, Dec. 21 ⏰ Start Time: 9 a.m. ET 📺 ESPN | 📱 Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo
Friday’s show leads directly into the Alabama-Oklahoma kickoff at 8 p.m. ET, while Saturday’s show returns to its familiar morning time slot, setting the tone for a full day of playoff football.
What’s at Stake
This weekend isn’t just about advancing-it’s about making a statement. For teams like Oklahoma and Alabama, it’s a chance to prove they belong in the upper echelon of the new playoff era. For Texas A&M and Miami, it’s about seizing a rare opportunity in a wide-open field.
And for fans? It’s a chance to soak in two GameDay shows in two classic college football towns, with legends like Bosworth and Manziel helping stir the pot.
The postseason is here. The stakes are sky-high. And College GameDay is right in the middle of it all.