ESPN's "Game Day" celebrated its 25th anniversary last weekend. Each week "Game Day" selects a game of the week and visits the site of the home college team to produce its broadcast. In this presentation, Matt Kupec looks at "Game Day's" 25 years and all the host sites it has visited.

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2. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
Managing Fundraising Expectations
 Last weekend ESPN’s College Football “Game Day” had a
feature celebrating the 25th year of hosting the very
popular pre-game college football show.
 Originating from the site of one of the day’s best
matchups, with a sea of fans cheering wildly in the
background a host of announcers talk college football for
three hours, reporting on the top teams, games, players
and storylines. The show finishes with the panel selecting
their picks in a number of key games.
 Watching that segment was entertaining and brought back
so many memories of some of college football’s great
games and stories over the last 25 years.
ESPN “Game Day” School Host Sites
Introduction
By Matt Kupec (mattkupecqb.com)
UCF Hosts ESPN’s “Game Day”

3. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
Managing Fundraising Expectations
 For me, it brought the memory of when ESPN’s “Game
Day” traveled to Chapel Hill, NC on November 8, 1997 for
the #2 Florida State vs. #5 UNC match-up of two unbeaten
teams.
 This would be UNC’s only time hosting “Game Day” on
the UNC campus.
 Unfortunately Florida State won 20-3 in a game that the
Tar Heels really didn’t make much of a contest.
 But in my 40 years of being associated with UNC football
it was by far the greatest environment for a college football
game in Chapel Hill. Nothing has come close since then!
ESPN “Game Day” School Host Sites
Introduction
By Matt Kupec (mattkupecqb.com)
UNC hosted its only “Game Day” visit on November 8, 1997

4. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
 But what is it about “Game Day” that makes it so incredibly popular? Why
is it must see television for college football fans? And what honor does it
bring a program when “Game Day” announces it will be traveling to that
campus to host its show?
 For one, it is a huge honor to host “Game Day” on your campus. When
“Game Day” announces they are traveling to your campus to host its show
you know you have one most important game of the weekend.
 “Game Day” brings great energy and excitement that ignites an entire
community. It validates your program and it becomes a bragging right and
the talk of the town.
 Just think about how good UCF felt as ESPN’s “Game Day” was in Orlando
to host its show on the UCF campus. “Game Day’s” visit shows the
importance of the University of Cincinnati vs. University of Central Florida
football game.
 UCF feels like they have been crowned king of college football for a week!
ESPN “Game Day” School Host Sites
Introduction
By Matt Kupec (mattkupecqb.com)
ESPN’s announcing crew discusses its 25 year history

5. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
This chart shows the # of games hosted by Power 5 Conference members. Here we look at the number of times ESPN’s Game Day has
traveled to the various college campuses to host its show. We look at the Power 5 Conferences only. For games at neutral sites, the home
team is credited with hosting Game Day. Notre Dame has hosted Game Day nine times but is not included in the chart because they
remain an independent in football:
ESPN “Game Day” Host Sites
# Games Hosted by School by Conference
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# of “Game Day” games hosted by School

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Most “Game Days” Hosted by School.
This chart looks at the colleges who lead in the number of games hosted on their campuses.
ESPN “Game Day” Host Sites
Most “Game Day” Games Hosted by School
By Matt Kupec (mattkupecqb.com)
Most “Game Day” games hosted by School

7. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
This chart looks at the total number of times colleges have played in the game where Game Day is announcing from. They may not be
the host but they may have been the opponent. Georgia is a great example. Georgia, surprisingly, has only hosted 3 Game Day visits to
Athens but Georgia has played in a total of 20 games where Game Day was hosting, meaning that 17 times Georgia was the road team.
ESPN “Game Day” Host Sites
# “Game Day” games Played In
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# of “Game Day” games played in by School

8. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
Most “Game Days” Played in By School.
This chart looks at the schools with the highest number of games played on “Game Day” visits. Alabama has
participated in the most with 43 games.
ESPN “Game Day” Host Sites
Most “Game Day” Games Hosted by School
By Matt Kupec (mattkupecqb.com)
Most “Game Day” games hosted by School

9. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
Best and Worst “Game Day” Records (played in at least 5 games).
This chart looks at the best and lowest percentages of those who have played in at least 5 Game Day games.
ESPN “Game Day” School Host Sites
Best and Worst Records from “Game Day” games
By Matt Kupec (mattkupecqb.com)
Best & Worst Records from “Game Day” games

10. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
Games that Attracted the Most ESPN “Game Day” Visits. This chart looks at the individual games that have
been hosted as the site for ESPN’s “Game Day.” Would you have guessed correctly the top game that served
as the site for ESPN’s “Game Day” over the years?
ESPN “Game Day” School Host Sites
Best and Worst Records from “Game Day” games
By Matt Kupec (mattkupecqb.com)
Games Most Covered on “Game Day” host sites

11. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
 The first “Game Day” broadcast was on November 13, 1993
with #1 Florida State vs. #2 Notre Dame from South Bend, IN.
Notre Dame wins the game 31-24.
 Notre Dame has participated in the following:
# Games – 29
# Hosted Games – 9
Overall Record – 13 wins, 16 losses, .448 winning
percentage.
 September 15, 2001 broadcast was cancelled due to September
11, 2001 attacks.
 Philadelphia, PA will be the site of the Army vs. Navy game
which represents the 5th time “Game Day” has been hosted for
the classic Army vs. Navy match-up.
 Army hosted “Game Day” in West Point in 2003 for a game vs.
South Florida.
 Navy has never hosted a “Game Day” in Annapolis, MD.
 Navy’s gave vs. Troy was hosted by “Game Day” from the
deck of the USS San Diego on November 10, 2012.
ESPN “Game Day” School Host Sites
Final “Game Day” Facts
By Matt Kupec (mattkupecqb.com)
Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Craig James Early Game Day hosts

12. By Matt Kupec (mattkupec.com)
Managing Fundraising Expectations
By Matt Kupec (mattkupecqb.com)
 Matt Kupec is a fundraising professional with 32 years of significant
higher education development experience. He has directed three major
university fundraising campaigns and nearly $5 billion has been raised
under his leadership. He has led the fundraising programs at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Hofstra University, Moffitt
Cancer Center & Research Institute and HelpMeSee, a New York City
based non-profit.
 Matt is a former record-breaking four year starting quarterback for the
UNC Tar Heels. During his career he set 19 season and career passing
records. Two of which still stand – most consecutive games with a TD
pass and most wins as a starting QB. Matt also set the ACC record for TD
passes his senior year at UNC. Matt was named MVP of the 1977 Liberty
Bowl and the 1979 Gator Bowl becoming the 1st player in Atlantic Coast
Conference history to be named MVP of two bowl games.
ESPN “Game Day” School Host Sites
About the Author