It took a while, but ESPN is finally including the Gophers in one of its most popular programs.Officials with the all-sports network announced that College GameDay will be in Minneapolis in the run-up for Saturday's border battle between the Gophers and Wisconsin at TCF Bank Stadium.
Not only is this the show's first trip to the Twin Cities, it's also the first time College GameDay originates from the site of any Gopher football game.
"There's a lot of special things happening," said Gopher coach PJ Fleck on WCCO's Sports Huddle. "We need everybody to show up on GameDay. Bring your family. Bring your kids. Bring your grandkids. It's an experience nobody's going to want to miss."
Earlier this year, Fleck lobbied hard for ESPN to bring GameDay to Minnesota for the game against Penn State, calling out the network during his post-game media availability after the win over Maryland.
Instead of Dinkytown, GameDay broadcast that day from Tuscaloosa, Ala., where Alabama played LSU in a 1 versus 2 matchup.
Fleck chose not to do make another pitch after the Gophers beat Northwestern.
It turned out that it wasn't necessary.
"It's one of those events that go into the Super Bowl of events," Fleck said. "Bring people that we can make them Golden Gopher fans."
The matchup between the Gophers and Badgers, which is the nation's longest uninterrupted major college football series, it's also a de facto playoff game.
While the Gophers already have secured at least a share of the Big Ten west division title, the winner on Saturday will receive a beth in the Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State.RELATED: Denied again
It's not yet known where College GameDay will locate the set for its panel of experts.
The set usually is plunked down in the middle of campus, with hundreds of fans gathering in the background, displaying banners and cheering for their favorite team.
The show features analysis of all things college football, with panelists and guests making predictions.
The bit most look forward to is watching analyst Lee Corso don the mascot head of the team he believes will win the game where the program is originating.
Other games on Saturday that could have hosted GameDay include Ohio State at Michigan and Alabama at Auburn.
Earlier this year, Gopher coach Fleck lobbied hard for ESPN to bring GameDay to Minnesota for the game against Penn State.
Instead, GameDay broadcast that day from Tuscaloosa, Ala., where Alabama played LSU in a 1 versus 2 matchup.
Fleck chose not to call out ESPN following Saturday's win at Northwestern.
It turned out that it wasn't necessary.
The Gophers and Wisconsin play for Paul Bunyan's Axe, which Minnesota captured last year to snap a 14-game losing streak to the Badgers.
That win also tied the all-time series 60-60 with eight ties.
The last time the Gophers beat the Badgers at home was a 37-34 win in 2003 at the Metrodome on a last-second field goal by Rhys Lloyd.
Wisconsin is 4-0 at TCF Bank Stadium.
