ESPN's 'College GameDay' puts Lane Kiffin, LSU in focus in early weeks

Field Level Media|published: Fri 21st August, 14:17 2026

LSU Tigers head football coach Lane Kiffin talking with Quarterback Husan Longstreet 8 at LSU Football practice. August 18, 2026.

The 40th season of ESPN's "College GameDay" will begin with a bang, with the show spotlighting one of college football's most talked-about coaches, Lane Kiffin, twice in the first three weeks of play.

"College GameDay" will kick off Sept. 5 with its 500th show on the road, this time in Baton Rouge, La., as Kiffin makes his debut as the head coach of preseason No. 11 LSU against Clemson in a night game.

The following week, the crew will be in Austin on Sept. 12 as No. 5 Texas hosts No. 1 Ohio State, with the Longhorns looking for payback for their road loss in Columbus last season.

As good as those two match-ups are, all eyes will be on Sept. 19, when the cheers Kiffin gets in Week 1 will turn into jeers. "GameDay" will be in Oxford, Miss., where Kiffin's Tigers meet the No. 9 Ole Miss program that Kiffin jilted for greener pastures.

All nine members of the on-air team will return, including analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who is celebrating his 30th season on the show.

"College GameDay's" first three shows will originate from the campuses of three different preseason AP Top 15 teams for the first time since 2002.

--Field Level Media