Where Is College GameDay in Week 8? Ole Miss-Texas Leads, But Big Ten Battles Could Shift the Race

ESPN's College GameDay has not yet announced its Week 8 campus location, but the early favorite is a potential top-10 SEC showdown between No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 1 Texas in Austin on Saturday, Oct. 24. Prediction market Kalshi gives Austin a 44% chance to host the show, making it the clear front-runner over other premier matchups like Indiana at Michigan and Texas Tech at Cincinnati.

For Iowa fans, the Week 8 picture carries added intrigue. The Hawkeyes' 3-2 start and recent wins over Minnesota and Michigan have shaken up the Big Ten race, and their performance could directly influence whether ESPN takes the show to Ann Arbor for Indiana at Michigan. If the Wolverines stumble again, that marquee matchup loses its luster, potentially opening the door for a different destination.

Will College GameDay be at Ole Miss vs. Texas?

Quarterback Arch Manning and No. 1 Texas are 4-0, and No. 9 Ole Miss would bring another top-10 opponent to Austin if both teams keep winning. The Rebels haven't faced the Longhorns since their 44-23 win at Texas in 2013, so this would be a fresh matchup between two SEC contenders. The game has an afternoon-or-night television window, leaving room for a prime-time showcase without a kickoff time or network locked in yet.

Both teams have work to do first. Texas faces Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry before hosting No. 16 Florida, while Ole Miss visits Vanderbilt and then welcomes No. 14 Missouri. The Rebels are 3-1 after their 52-28 loss at Florida, and another defeat would make it much harder to sell this as the biggest game of the week.

The strongest argument against Austin is that GameDay was just there for Texas' 24-23 comeback win over Ohio State on Sept. 12. ESPN also featured the Longhorns at Tennessee two weeks later. A return would be easier to justify if Texas is still No. 1 and Ole Miss keeps its top-10 ranking, but it leaves an opening for a campus the show hasn't visited this season.

College GameDay history at Texas

College GameDay has made 11 football visits to Austin, including this season's Ohio State game. Texas had lost its previous four home games with the show in town before rallying past the Buckeyes. Here's a look at the five most recent completed visits:

• 2026: Texas 24, Ohio State 23 (Sept. 12)
• 2024: Georgia 30, Texas 15 (Oct. 19)
• 2023: Texas 34, Kansas State 27 (Nov. 4)
• 2019: LSU 45, Texas 38 (Sept. 7)
• 2018: Texas 48, USC 14 (Sept. 15)

Where else could College GameDay be in Week 8?

Indiana at Michigan

Indiana gives Ann Arbor a compelling visitor, but Michigan needs to do its part. The Wolverines are 3-2 after consecutive losses to Iowa and Minnesota with a bye before Penn State comes to town on Oct. 17. Beating the Nittany Lions would help restore some appeal, especially if No. 7 Indiana arrives unbeaten. The Hoosiers are 5-0 but still have to survive Nebraska on the road and Ohio State at home. An Indiana win over the Buckeyes would give ESPN plenty to talk about the following Saturday.

Iowa's role here is notable. The Hawkeyes' 24-17 win over Michigan on Sept. 26 was a statement victory that exposed the Wolverines' vulnerabilities. If Michigan can't rebound against Penn State, ESPN may look elsewhere for its Week 8 destination.

Texas Tech at Cincinnati

Cincinnati offers a different setting and a timely hook: the Texas Tech game is the Bearcats' 100th homecoming. The Red Raiders are 5-0 with a bye before hosting Arizona State, while Cincinnati is 4-1 after a 34-7 loss at Arizona and visits West Virginia on Oct. 17. An unbeaten Texas Tech visiting a 5-1 Cincinnati would give the Big 12 a worthwhile alternative, but the Bearcats need a much better showing in Morgantown to make that case convincing.

What could change the Week 8 College GameDay race?

• Texas' next two games: Oklahoma gets the first shot at the No. 1 Longhorns, followed by a Florida team that already beat Ole Miss. Two Texas wins would preserve Austin's biggest selling point: the nation's top-ranked team hosting another playoff contender.
• Ole Miss' response after the bye: The Rebels need to recover from the Florida loss at Vanderbilt before facing Missouri. The Tigers just routed the Gators 45-17, so that Oct. 17 matchup could do more to decide Austin's GameDay chances than anything the Longhorns do that weekend.
• A challenger making its case: Indiana beating Ohio State would put more attention on its trip to Michigan, provided the Wolverines can beat Penn State. Cincinnati and Texas Tech also need wins on Oct. 17 to give their homecoming matchup a stronger national draw.

Has College GameDay announced its Week 8 location?

No. ESPN has not officially announced its College GameDay destination for Saturday, Oct. 24. Austin leads the market, but the location, campus set, and guest picker remain unconfirmed. We'll update this page once ESPN announces its choice.

2026 College GameDay schedule

The first six stops are confirmed, including Tuscaloosa for Georgia at Alabama on Oct. 10. For Iowa fans, the Oct. 17 slate is critical: the Hawkeyes host Wisconsin while Penn State visits Michigan and Missouri travels to Ole Miss. Those results will shape where the show lands the following week.

Follow our GameDay schedule for every confirmed location and the latest projections for the rest of the season.