Could College GameDay come to Salt Lake City next weekend? -Deseret News

When College GameDay announces its next destination on November 3rd, there's a chance all eyes will be on Salt Lake City.

With BYU undefeated and ranked No. 9 in the latest AP poll, and Utah hosting the latest version of the rivalry between the Cougars and Utes, next Saturday's game at Rice-Eccles Stadium appears to be a prime GameDay candidate.

The rivalry game might even have been a hindrance if not for the Utes' recent struggles.

However, according to the latest predictions, BYU vs. Utah is not the most likely destination for the popular college football show. Other candidates to host GameDay, in order of likelihood according to several predictions, include:

• The 16th-ranked LSU Tigers (hosting No. 14 Alabama).
• The Virginia Tech Hokies (host No. 11 Clemson).
• The No. 18 Pittsburgh Panthers (hosting Virginia).
• The 19th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels (hosting No. 2 Georgia).
• The Texas Tech Red Raiders (host No. 23 Colorado).

What about College GameDay for BYU and Utah?

Despite the competition, there are reasons to believe GameDay could highlight the competition between the Cougars and the Utes.

GameDay has yet to visit a Big 12 site this season, while the show has visited an SEC site five times. The show has also been shown four times on a Big Ten side and twice on an ACC side (or matchup).

That alone gives BYU-Utah a chance, even though Texas Tech-Colorado is in a similar situation.

It's significant that the Cougars are undefeated. All but one other game worthy of College GameDay – next weekend will feature teams that have each lost at least one game, and in many cases more than one game.

The only other undefeated team that would have a GameDay-worthy contest is Pitt, but the Panthers face a tough test this weekend with a trip to Dallas to play No. 20 SMU.

If you lose the game, Pitt quickly disappears from the radar.

Every other notable game next week features two teams that have lost both games, even if they are between historically significant rivals.

Take LSU-Alabama. Normally, the rivalry game between the Tigers and Crimson Tide is one to watch on TV, but both teams have already suffered two losses and are on the outside in the fight for the SEC title.

What works with College GameDay against BYU and Utah

The Cougars and Utes are hurt by their membership in the Big 12.

Despite being one of the Power 4 conferences, the Big 12 has clearly established itself as the least notable conference among the major leagues, at least in the eyes of ESPN and GameDay this season.

The show's priority was clearly SEC or Big Ten matchups, with the exception of a Week 0 game with Florida State (at the time the Seminoles were considered a national title threat) and another game earlier in the season involving the undefeated Miami traveled across the country to compete against Cal.

Even though there wasn't a Big 12 game on GameDay this year, that obviously wasn't a priority.

Additionally, Utah's recent struggles aren't doing the rivalry game any favors. The Utes were considered a real threat to make the College Football Playoff early in the season, but a three-game losing streak has dashed any hopes of winning, be it a CFP berth or the Big 12 title game.

Add to that the uncertainty of being the Utes' quarterback – will it be Isaac Wilson or Brandon Rose against BYU – and there's real reason to believe the BYU-Utah game won't have too many fireworks despite the heated nature of the rivalry .

BYU and Utah's history with College GameDay

It might be best for BYU if the Utes didn't host College GameDay next weekend.

BYU hasn't had a GameDay game against TCU since 2009, but the Cougars have a pretty dismal record in GameDay contests. The Cougars have the worst record ever with Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon State and are 0-3 on GameDay.

Utah has a much more recent history with GameDay, having hosted the show just last season when the Oregon Ducks played in Salt Lake City.

Utah didn't win that game – Oregon walked away with a commanding 35-6 victory – which was the Utes' fifth GameDay game in their history.

GameDay has previously been part of the rivalry between the Utes and Cougars, when Utah hosted BYU in 2004. In that game, the Utes had a dominant performance, rushing for 354 yards and five touchdowns in a commanding 52-21 victory.