Predicting first six College GameDay locations for 2015

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WEEK 1: ALABAMA vs. WISCONSIN (AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX)

For three of the past four years, College GameDay has kicked off the season in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium for the annual Cowboys Classic, and that’s likely where it will be once again this season for week one. Alabama will open the year ranked in the Top 5 and will have an early shot to put its Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State in the rearview when it meets another Big Ten squad in Wisconsin, who should be ranked somewhere in the Top 20 to begin the Paul Chryst era. The Crimson Tide offense will be breaking in some new faces, but the run game should be as good as ever with RB Derrick Henry leading the way behind an outstanding offensive line. The Badgers, consistently among the top teams in the nation with regard to running the football, will provide a stiff test for Alabama’s vaunted defense. The 2015 season is set up to be an exciting one and, while there are plenty of intriguing matchups on tap for the opening weekend, there’s no better game than this one to get the fun started.

Also considered: Louisville vs. Auburn (Atlanta, Ga.); Arizona State vs. Texas A&M (Houston, Texas); Texas at Notre Dame

WEEK 2: OREGON at MICHIGAN STATE

College GameDay was on hand in Eugene last year for this matchup and it more than lived up to the hype, with Oregon coming out on top thanks to a huge second half comeback. It’s a safe bet the GameDay crew will be in East Lansing for the return trip in week two. Last year’s game between the Ducks and Spartans proved to be the best, and most important, non-conference game of the season, with the win catapulting Oregon on its run to the national title game and launching Marcus Mariota’s successful Heisman campaign. This year’s matchup will have comparable stakes as both teams should open the season ranked somewhere in the Top 10. Michigan State will be at home this time and if QB Connor Cook can carry the Spartans to victory with a big performance, he could see a similar trajectory to Mariota’s 2014 season, with the win giving him an early edge on the rest of the Heisman field.

Also considered: Oklahoma at Tennessee; LSU at Mississippi State

WEEK 3: OLE MISS at ALABAMA

Another GameDay repeat from last year, when Ole Miss and Alabama – both undefeated at the time – met in Oxford and the Rebels scored a pair of late touchdowns to pull off the huge upset. If both teams make it to week three with no losses, GameDay would be left with no reason not to be in Tuscaloosa for the rematch. Alabama will have to take care of business against Wisconsin, but that’s the only really tough test of the first two weeks between the two teams. Ole Miss will be led by a new QB, but he’ll have a solid supporting cast at his disposal, as well as a supremely talented defense. The Crimson Tide will be at home this time, so the Rebels will have their work cut out for them if they intend to make it two in a row.

Also considered: Georgia Tech at Notre Dame; Auburn at LSU; Stanford at USC

WEEK 4: USC at ARIZONA STATE

College GameDay has only traveled to Arizona State one time and that was all the way back in 2005, but that’s largely because the Sun Devils haven’t given them much reason to visit. But the Sun Devils have made huge strides under head coach Todd Graham, coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons. Here, they meet a USC team that’s stacked from top to bottom and looking to reclaim its spot at the top of the ultra-competitive Pac-12 South Division. The Trojans are led by senior QB Cody Kessler, who will look to get the Trojans back in the national title picture as his college career comes to an end. When these two teams met last season, the game was decided on the final play with the Sun Devils prevailing on a hail mary as time expired. The Pac-12 South is wide open and this game could play a big role in deciding the winner.

Also considered: UCLA at Arizona; BYU at Michigan; Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (Arlington, Texas); Mississippi State at Auburn; Tennessee at Florida

WEEK 5: NOTRE DAME at CLEMSON

Notre Dame has several games on its schedule that are more than worthy of hosting College GameDay, but this is perhaps the most intriguing of them all. Clemson, with sophomore phenom Deshaun Watson at the helm, is primed to challenge Florida State for ACC supremacy and contend for a playoff spot. The Irish will provide the Tigers with an early test to see if they’re ready to take that next step. Notre Dame is also set up for a big year, with a promising sophomore QB of its own in Malik Zaire along with a talented young defense. Though half of Notre Dame’s games in 2015 will come against ACC opponents, this is technically a non-conference matchup, and it’s one of the best such games of the year.

Also considered: Ole Miss at Florida; Alabama at Georgia; Arizona State at UCLA; West Virginia at Oklahoma; Texas at TCU

WEEK 6: GEORGIA at TENNESSEE

This game could ultimately decide the winner of the SEC East, though back-to-back division champ Missouri will probably have something to say about that. Tennessee enters the season with high hopes thanks to a loaded young roster led by junior QB Joshua Dobbs, who could potentially end up in the Heisman conversation. Georgia has a Heisman contender of its own in RB Nick Chubb, who had an outstanding true freshman season filling in for Todd Gurley. The Bulldogs are a perennial contender for the SEC East crown and this year won’t be any different. GameDay has only been to Knoxville once since 2004, but that could change this season as Butch Jones has the Vols ready to compete on the national stage.

Also considered: Georgia Tech at Clemson; Arkansas at Alabama; TCU at Kansas State; Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas, Texas); Miami at Florida State; Wisconsin at Nebraska; Maryland at Ohio State

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