ESPN hints at Albuquerque ‘College GameDay’
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Is ESPN’s “College GameDay” coming to Albuquerque?
Nothing has been announced, but it certainly sounds like it’s under consideration — especially if two particular teams keep winning.
When asked about undefeated North Dakota State’s game at UNLV on Saturday on “The College GameDay Podcast,” longtime show host Rece Davis said New Mexico’s game against the Bison on Oct. 24 could be “really, really attractive” if both teams hold serve.
Davis has hosted “GameDay,” ESPN’s traveling college football pregame show, since 2015. This season, he has been joined on the desk by four analysts: former Alabama coach Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard.
(https://t.co/QlIxHHW2U6) https://t.co/uAjmlcbaqu
— Sean Reider (@lenaweereider) October 7, 2026
“Rece, are you dropping little nuggets here?” ESPN college sports reporter and GameDay contributor Pete Thamel asked. “ … Are you saying that Gameday could go to Albuquerque?”
“I’m not saying Gameday’s going there,” Davis replied. “But I’m not saying it’s not. I need North Dakota State to win (against UNLV). Need New Mexico to keep winning. Need it.”
Since 1993, “GameDay” has traveled to high-profile college football games on a weekly basis. UNM has never hosted “GameDay” in that span; of the current teams in the 10-team Mountain West, only Air Force and North Dakota State have hosted, with the latter doing so twice before joining the FBS ranks earlier this year.
“GameDay” last traveled to a Group of Six school in 2023, setting up on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina ahead of the Mountaineers’ game against 10-0 James Madison University. App State won 26-23 in overtime.
But if UNM and North Dakota State do hold serve, the “GameDay” appeal isn’t hard to see. The Bison would enter University Stadium on Oct. 24 at 7-0 while the hosting Lobos would be 5-1, only falling in a narrow 14-6 loss at Oklahoma.
Beyond the possible College Football Playoff (CFP) implications of that game, other off-field storylines are attractive: In their first FBS season, the Bison appear to be one of the best teams in the Group of Six. And head coach Jason Eck has rejuvenated UNM to the point that the Lobos are a national story on the gridiron for the first time in ages.
The first-ever matchup between the Lobos and Bison does have competition, though. Ninth-ranked Ole Miss plays at No. 1 Ole Miss, No. 12 Utah hosts No. 22 Houston and No. 25 Pittsburgh will look to upset No. 4 Miami on the road the same week as UNM’s tilt against North Dakota State.
Nor is it a given that either team keeps winning entering that game: North Dakota State plays at UNLV on Saturday and hosts Nevada (Oct. 17) while UNM is idle this weekend before playing at Hawaii.
UNM has not won at Hawaii since 2016.
“I want to make sure myself, our staff and our players stay focused on Hawaii,” Eck said. “Because I know the quickest way to make sure that doesn’t happen would be for us to go lose to Hawaii. So, we’re focused on the task at hand, but I encourage you guys to, you know, write Kirk Herbstreit a letter of whatever.”
“We’re gonna stay focused on the task at hand, but I encourage you guys to write Kirk Herbstreit a letter or whatever.” ( via @UNMLOBOS) https://t.co/hbJgNN0srQ
— Sean Reider (@lenaweereider) October 7, 2026
But while “College GameDay” has never made it to UNM, it isn't as though UNM hasn't been to plenty of "GameDays".
Valerie Flores, a born and raised New Mexican and UNM graduate who now lives and teaches in Fort Worth, Texas, regularly travels to "GameDay" locations around the country and can be seen in the crowd during live shots of the show waving atop a 20-foot pole a state of New Mexico Zia flag and a UNM Lobos flag. She's been to 23 "GameDay" showings.
She was even affectionately dubbed "The Pole Lady" by one of her elementary school students last year after seeing her on so many shows.
"It would be a dream come true (if ESPN brought the show to UNM)," Flores said. "Aside from wanting to support my school/teams and get the logo out there, it was almost like I was campaigning for the past 12 years for this to happen. I never thought it would actually be on the table."
Flores will be traveling back to Albuquerque for the game, with or without "GameDay" showing up. She said she booked her flight last month even "before GameDay in Burque was even a possibility," she wrote in a text message to the Journal.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.
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