This weekend, ESPN GameDay is going to Provo for the BYU-TCU game. That’s cool. But could we see an even more improbable visit to a mid-major showdown by Herbie, Corso and Fowler next month? Pat Forde asks:
The [Idaho] Vandals were 3-21 the previous two years. Now they’re 6-1, off to their best start since their days as an FCS program and eyeing their first bowl bid since 1998. They’re keeping alive the impossible dream: “GameDay” in Boise on Nov. 14 for Idaho-Boise State?
Hmm, well, let’s look at the November 14 schedule.
Three obvious possibilities jump out (with current BCS rankings):
• #1 Florida at #24 South Carolina
• #6 Iowa at #19 Ohio State
• Notre Dame at #20 Pittsburgh
Hawkeyes-Buckeyes seems like the most likely choice if Iowa is still undefeated, since that would be the last major hurdle between Iowa and an undefeated regular season (and potential BCS title-game berth). On the other hand, GameDay has already been to the Horseshoe this season (vs. USC), and has already been to an Iowa game (at Penn State). And if Iowa loses at Sparty this weekend (or at home against Indiana or Northwestern in the weeks that follow, though I don’t see that happening), forget it.
Similarly, Gators-Gamecocks appears to be Florida’s last major hurdle before the SEC championship game. But with Florida having practically wrapped up the SEC East title regardless of this game’s outcome, and with GameDay having already been to Florida-LSU and being virtually guaranteed to see Florida again at the SEC title game three weeks later, ESPN might pass on this one. It’s also quite possible South Carolina will lose beforehand, what with consecutive visits to Tennessee and Arkansas the two preceding weeks, in which case this game obviously loses a lost of its luster. (The Cocks would most likely be unranked with a loss.)
As for Irish-Panthers, this will be a bigger game than it presently appears, if both teams win out over the next three weeks. I would imagine that 7-2 Notre Dame would be ranked somewhere around #20, and 8-1 Pitt would be ranked in the Top 15. This is Notre Dame’s last chance for a “marquee win” — and probably GameDay’s only opportunity to go to an Irish game this season (something they haven’t done since 2006). Will it happen? I think it’s definitely possible, particularly if Iowa and South Carolina lose in the mean time.
There are two notable longshots: Texas Tech at #15 Oklahoma State (if Oklahoma State beats Texas on October 31), and Arizona State at #11 Oregon (if GameDay doesn’t go to USC-Oregon on October 31, and if ASU beats USC on November 7). There’s also Utah-TCU, but since they’re going to BYU-TCU this week, that obviously won’t happen.
So… what are the chances of Idaho at Boise State getting the GameDay nod, assuming both teams win out between now and then? I wouldn’t count on it, particularly three weeks after paying homage to the mid-majors this week. But it’s not impossible. WAC fans: root against Iowa, South Carolina, Pitt and ND! 🙂