COLUMBIA, S.C. — We now know who'll be the guest picker for ESPN College GameDay's first appearance in Columbia in 10 years. And yes, Gamecocks fans will likely be pleased by the choice.
The sports network announced Thursday on social media that South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball coach Dawn Staley has been selected to sit with the GameDay crew on Saturday morning in Columbia. That will be before USC's football game against LSU begins at noon.
"National Champion, a Hall of Famer, and an icon," ESPN wrote on X.
Staley will be on-air at 10:50 a.m. and again starting at 11:40 a.m. Meanwhile, the women’s basketball team will be in Gamecock Village signing autographs on the provided autograph card from 9:15 to 10 a.m., pending suitable weather. They'll later be honored at halftime of the football game for winning a national title.
College GameDay will broadcast live from Gamecock Park, across the street from Williams-Brice Stadium, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The broadcast will then move into the stadium for the final hour, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The show will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN U.
This is the eighth time College GameDay has come to Columbia, and it's the first time since Sept. 27, 2014, when the Gamecocks hosted Missouri. The show previews all the major matchups and is usually held in the town where a game of major significance takes place that day. USC is hosting No. 16 LSU, and the Gamecocks come into the game fresh off an upset against Kentucky.
It's hosted by Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban.
ESPN will also broadcast live hits from the location on Friday afternoon, and Gamecock Park will be open for fans to watch the shows.
All Athletics-controlled parking lots, including Gamecock Park and all Lexington Medical Center Fair Park areas, will open at 6 a.m. for fans with the appropriate pre-purchased parking pass. All of these lots are sold out and will not offer single-game parking.
Starting at 5:45 a.m. on Saturday, a shuttle will run for students and fans only at the Russell House. The shuttle is free for students with a CarolinaCard, and fans can ride for $5. The first 600 students will get a free breakfast and a T-shirt. The Bull Street garage will also open for $20 per car for public parking. This early shuttle will drop riders off inside Gamecock Park. The ESPN GameDay pit will open for fans at 6:30 a.m.
At 8 a.m., the normal game-day shuttle will begin with stops at three locations for pickup (Colonial Life Arena, Russell House and Campus Village). The shuttle drop-off will be inside the Fairgrounds starting at 8 a.m.
The ESPN GameDay set in Gamecock Park will host SportsCenter hits from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and the ESPN GameDay Show from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Gamecock Village, located next to Gamecock Park, will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday and will have live music, sponsored games and activities, inflatables and interactives for fans. Gamecock Walk will occur at approximately 10 a.m. in Gamecock Park.