The Kentucky Wildcats lost more than a game when they got whipped by South Carolina last weekend.
They lost a chance to host ESPN’s College GameDay and the circus-like atmosphere that comes along with the popular show.
CGD will be on site in Columbia, South Carolina, for the Gamecocks’ matchup against No. 16 LSU Saturday. Paul Finebaum said this week the show’s decision to go to Columbia is “one of the more bizarre GameDay choices in its history.”
Analyst Kirk Herbstreit explained that decision Thursday on X, saying that Kentucky “spit the bit” in a 31-6 loss to South Carolina last weekend, and as a result, Lexington was dropped as the CGD host site. He also noted he and ABC play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler also were scheduled to call Kentucky’s game against No. 1 Georgia Saturday night, but instead will now work South Carolina-LSU.
Because Kentucky spit the bit last week. CGD was a lock for UK if Cats won last week and we would have called the game as well. But South Carolina dominating that game we always adjust to the results from the previous week. https://t.co/tFwmXtGS9g
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) September 12, 2024
ESPN’s decision to skip Lexington didn’t sit well with Finebaum, who earlier this week told The Matt Barrie Show on ESPN’s College Football YouTube channel that UK rarely gets a host opportunity.
“I was in Lexington on Saturday,” Finebaum said. “You could go to Auburn, you could go to a lot of places where good football…In Lexington, all the students were asking me yesterday, because Georgia comes there next week, ‘You think GameDay will be here?’ GameDay was going to Lexington…For GameDay to go to Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, they go every year, sometimes twice; they don’t go to Lexington, but once every 20 years or so.”
[Kirk Herbstreit]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.