'GameDay' Skips Illinois for 13th Oregon Visit, Disappointing Illini Fans

On October 11, 2025, the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini were set to host the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in a potentially pivotal Big Ten matchup. However, ESPN's popular 'College GameDay' show will not be making its debut in Champaign for this game. Instead, the 'GameDay' crew of Rece Davis, Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee, and Desmond Howard will be headed to Eugene, Oregon, to preview the clash between No. 2 Oregon and No. 7 Indiana.

This decision has left many Illinois fans feeling snubbed. The Illini are one of six Power 5 schools that have never hosted 'GameDay' in its 13 previous visits to Eugene. If Illinois had pulled off an upset over the defending national champions, they may have been ranked in the top 5 and been a more attractive option for the pregame show.

Nonetheless, the selection of the Oregon-Indiana matchup is understandable, as it features two unbeaten Big Ten teams. The ESPN crew also opted to skip the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma, likely due to the Longhorns' recent loss to Florida. But for Illinois fans, this may have been their best chance to finally get 'GameDay' to come to Champaign and give their team some much-needed national exposure.