ESPN College GameDay Headed to Temple for Week 9 vs. Notre Dame

We had to be a little patient as they took their time making the decision to head to Temple instead of Pullman, WA where the Washington State Cougars are playing their best football in years for head coach Mike Leach.

ESPN was at James Madison last weekend but College GameDay is returning to the FBS ranks but will be at a non-traditional power this weekend.

There were immediate rumors of boycotting the WSU flag-flying at Temple this weekend.

GameDay was in Philly once previously, on the campus of UPenn in advance of the Quakers 2002 Franklin Field battle against Harvard.

Notre Dame’s November 7 date with Pittsburgh at Heinz Field will begin in college football Saturday’s first block of games on either ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC, even though it’s a potential top-25 matchup.

Before the announcement, ESPN was deciding between two possible locations: Washington State, who are hosting #8 Stanford next Saturday, or Temple in Philadelphia.

But Washington State fans have had a presence at every GameDay since the October 2003 season, when a grassroots campaign to get the show to come to Wazzu started with an 800-mile drive from Albuquerque to Austin.

ESPN’s “College GameDay” will broadcast from Independence Mall in Philadelphia on Saturday as No. 21 Temple hosts No. 9 Notre Dame in one of the most significant games in the school’s history.

Shortly after the decision was made, Ol Crimson, the flag that has flown at 171 consecutive GameDay shows announced they intend to make it for 172.

For the first time since 2011, Notre Dame will kick off a regular season road game at noon E.T.

But the struggles of the team have left them off college football’s map for a while, until this year.