Former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid will serve as the guest picker for ESPN's College GameDay when the program returns to the University of Utah on Saturday, Oct. 24. The announcement, made Thursday, Oct. 22, comes ahead of the 10th-ranked Utes' Homecoming matchup against the 14th-ranked Houston Cougars.
Broadcast Highlights and Segments
The broadcast is scheduled to air live from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. MDT from Presidents Circle in the center of campus. In addition to Kincaid, the upcoming program will feature Morgan Scalley live on set. Other segments scheduled for the broadcast include a "Cowboy Up" feature focusing on Utah defensive coordinator Colton Swan, a "Just the Two of Us" segment regarding the Utes' two-quarterback sets, and Pat McAfee's "Kicking is Easy" field goal contest.
Homecoming and Matchup Details
The University of Utah announced on Oct. 20 that this will mark the program's seventh visit to the campus. The show is set to take place during Homecoming week as the Utes prepare to host the Houston Cougars at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The game is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. MT and will feature a "Dark Mode" theme, with players expected to wear all-black uniforms.
Fan Attendance and Queuing
Fans planning to attend the live broadcast may begin lining up in the designated Pit area at Presidents Circle starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Overnight queuing is permitted, but attendees must remove all personal equipment—including tents, sleeping bags, blankets, chairs, and umbrellas—by 4 a.m. Saturday. Items left in the overnight area after that time will be collected and discarded.
Safety and Prohibited Items
The University of Utah is encouraging fans who plan to wait overnight to prepare for cold temperatures, with forecasts predicting lows in the 40s for Friday night. Fans entering the Pit may begin entering at 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Prohibited items in the area include bags, food, drinks (including empty reusable water bottles), pens, pencils, markers, and signs on sticks.
Historical Context of Visits
The University of Utah has a long history with the pregame show, having hosted the broadcast nine times total. Previous visits to Salt Lake City occurred in 2004, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2023, and 2025. Additionally, the show has visited Utah during the 2009 matchup against TCU in Fort Worth, as well as during the Utes' trips to the Rose Bowl Game against Ohio State in the 2021 season and Penn State in the 2022 season.
Additional Game Day Information
During halftime of Saturday's game, the Utes will recognize student-athletes named to the Athletics Director's Honor Roll for the 2026 spring semester. This honor is awarded to student-athletes who earn a minimum 3.0 grade-point average in a semester. Public transit is encouraged for the event, as UTA buses, TRAX, and FrontRunner trains will offer free rides to ticketholders.
