First, do you know you know how long it has been since Gameday was in Tallahassee? Answer: 9 years (2014).
The chances are low this year, but not zero.
First, it should go without saying that FSU would have to beat Wake and Pitt and Miami would have to beat UVA and NCSU.
If that happened, you would think Miami would move well into the Top 25 at 7-2 and probably in the Top 20.
So, here's the competition:
1) Michigan at Penn State.
So this game is a problem.
Michigan has only Purdue left before the Nitanny Lions. Penn State has Indiana (easy win) and then at Maryland, which is a little more interesting, although the 5-2 Terps have dropped two straight.
Gameday likes Happy Valley -- it did not go there last year, but that was for the first time since 2016.
So, other than a Maryland upset, what could cause Gameday to go elsewhere?
Three things: a) It's a Fox noon game, and if they have an option, they'd rather not promote the enemy's game; b) they've aleady had PSU once; c) Gameday has yet to do a pure ACC matchup this season.
Admittedly, the second two aren't particularly strong reasons. The first (or a Maryland upset) are the best hope.
Also, Stealing Signs-gate will surely drive up ratings (can you imagine the signs?), so that hurts.
Bottom line: This game is the heavy favorite. FSU fans need to root for Maryland or hope that Disney has had enough of promoting Fox games.
Other candidates:
2) Ole Miss at UGA
Strikes against: a) As the best SEC game of the week, it will almost certainly be the CBS 3:30 game so another non-Disney broadcast (see Fox factor above).
Strikes for: a) If Ole Miss beats Vandy and A&M at home and UGA beats UF and Mizzou it will likely be a Top 10 matchup and the second best game of the day, on paper b) Gameday has barely done any SEC this year (Texas at Alabama and UNC/USC in Charlotte is it).
Bottom line: If not promoting the enemy is the controling factor, not sure why Disney would pass on UM/PSU just to promote a game on a different network. Otherwise, this game looks great.
3) Utah at Washington
Strikes against: a) Gameday has already been to Seattle and is in St. Lake City this weekend b) the Pac-10 has already had 4 games c) Utah and Washington both have tough games on the schedule (Oregon and USC) and could have lost.
Strikes for: If they both win out, it's a great matchup.
Bottom line: I think FSU-UM would rank ahead of this game.
I would also say this schedule STRONGLY points to FSU-UM being the primetime ABC game. The noon and 3:30 slots are filled with great games, so I don't see any reason why they would want to put our game up against either of those.
So ... Gameday in Tallahassee is clearly a long shot, but not a zero shot.
Go Terps!
And, of course, Go Noles!
The chances are low this year, but not zero.
First, it should go without saying that FSU would have to beat Wake and Pitt and Miami would have to beat UVA and NCSU.
If that happened, you would think Miami would move well into the Top 25 at 7-2 and probably in the Top 20.
So, here's the competition:
1) Michigan at Penn State.
So this game is a problem.
Michigan has only Purdue left before the Nitanny Lions. Penn State has Indiana (easy win) and then at Maryland, which is a little more interesting, although the 5-2 Terps have dropped two straight.
Gameday likes Happy Valley -- it did not go there last year, but that was for the first time since 2016.
So, other than a Maryland upset, what could cause Gameday to go elsewhere?
Three things: a) It's a Fox noon game, and if they have an option, they'd rather not promote the enemy's game; b) they've aleady had PSU once; c) Gameday has yet to do a pure ACC matchup this season.
Admittedly, the second two aren't particularly strong reasons. The first (or a Maryland upset) are the best hope.
Also, Stealing Signs-gate will surely drive up ratings (can you imagine the signs?), so that hurts.
Bottom line: This game is the heavy favorite. FSU fans need to root for Maryland or hope that Disney has had enough of promoting Fox games.
Other candidates:
2) Ole Miss at UGA
Strikes against: a) As the best SEC game of the week, it will almost certainly be the CBS 3:30 game so another non-Disney broadcast (see Fox factor above).
Strikes for: a) If Ole Miss beats Vandy and A&M at home and UGA beats UF and Mizzou it will likely be a Top 10 matchup and the second best game of the day, on paper b) Gameday has barely done any SEC this year (Texas at Alabama and UNC/USC in Charlotte is it).
Bottom line: If not promoting the enemy is the controling factor, not sure why Disney would pass on UM/PSU just to promote a game on a different network. Otherwise, this game looks great.
3) Utah at Washington
Strikes against: a) Gameday has already been to Seattle and is in St. Lake City this weekend b) the Pac-10 has already had 4 games c) Utah and Washington both have tough games on the schedule (Oregon and USC) and could have lost.
Strikes for: If they both win out, it's a great matchup.
Bottom line: I think FSU-UM would rank ahead of this game.
I would also say this schedule STRONGLY points to FSU-UM being the primetime ABC game. The noon and 3:30 slots are filled with great games, so I don't see any reason why they would want to put our game up against either of those.
So ... Gameday in Tallahassee is clearly a long shot, but not a zero shot.
Go Terps!
And, of course, Go Noles!
