College GameDay Heads to Boise State for Week 11 Showdown

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The ESPN pregame show “College GameDay” is traveling to Boise, Idaho, for Week 11 to preview a high-stakes Pac-12 matchup.

The announcement came Sunday, Nov. 8, as the production wrapped up its coverage of the top-10 contest between Miami and Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, according to usatoday.com.

The crew, which includes panelists Rece Davis, Nick Saban, and Pat McAfee, will set up at Albertsons Stadium. This visit marks a rare appearance for the show in a non-power conference location, specifically targeting the famed “Smurf Turf.”

Boise State (8-1, 5-0 in Pac-12 play) will host unranked Oregon State (5-4, 3-2). While Oregon State has struggled recently, losing two consecutive games to Fresno State and Texas State, the matchup affects the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings.

Playoff implications for the Broncos

Boise State currently stands as a front-runner for the Group of Six to secure a spot in the expanded 12-team playoff bracket. As reported by sports.yahoo.com, the Broncos were ranked 25th in the initial CFP rankings.

As the highest-ranked non-power team, they were positioned as the 12th and final team in the bracket, which would have pitted them against No. 5 Alabama in Tuscaloosa had the rankings remained static after Week 9.

The Broncos are looking to recapture the momentum of their 2010 season. During that year, Boise State also hosted “College GameDay” for a matchup against Oregon State, winning that contest 37-24. That 2010 squad eventually finished with a 12-1 record and a 26-3 Las Vegas Bowl victory over Utah, according to saturdaydownsouth.com.

This Saturday’s game features several key players capable of influencing the national conversation:

Player Team Key Statistic / Role
Jesse Legree Boise State 61 receptions, 1,209 yards, 14 touchdowns
Braden Atkinson Boise State Quarterback
JaMarcus Shephard Oregon State Beavers leader
Maddux Madsen Boise State Quarterback

Jesse Legree has emerged as a premier playmaker this season, catching 61 passes for 1,209 yards and 14 touchdowns from quarterback Braden Atkinson. Meanwhile, Oregon State features Atkinson, who saturdaydownsouth.com describes as one of the best Group of Six quarterbacks in the country.

Nick saban and kirk on the set for espn s college
Photo: saturdaydownsouth.com

A rare visit to the Smurf Turf

This marks only the second time the traveling show has visited Boise. The program’s previous trip to the city occurred in 2010. While Boise State has enjoyed success during its limited appearances, Oregon State has struggled on the national stage, having gone 0-3 in its three prior appearances on the show.

The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET on USA Network. “College GameDay” will begin its broadcast at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday morning.

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