When College GameDay has come to Tuscaloosa, disappointment has usually followed in terms of the guest picker choices by ESPN. Typically, the guest picker is someone affiliated with the host school/town/state. A celebrity fan, notable alumnus, etc.
The exception to that rule has frequently been when the show has been on the campus of the University of Alabama.
This will be the 16th time College GameDay has been on site in Tuscaloosa since guest pickers became a weekly tradition on the show. On seven occasions, the guest picker had zero affiliation with the university. That included multiple times when the guest picker choice was a fan of the team Alabama was playing.
That includes last season, when GameDay was in town for Alabama's home matchup against Vanderbilt and Theo Von was the guest picker and represented the Commodores.
It has long been a source of frustration for Crimson Tide fans over the years. But they can rejoice in the latest visit by the GameDay crew. Former Alabama Heisman Trophy-winning QB Bryce Young was announced as the guest picker on Thursday:
The Heisman winner returns to Title Town. @_bryce_young is your College GameDay guest picker! pic.twitter.com/VrDjjBuMz2
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) October 8, 2026
Bryce Young will be the guest picker on College GameDay ahead of Alabama-Georgia
Young is in the midst of his best year yet as an NFL QB through four games for the Carolina Panthers. He's the NFL's leader in passing yards and tied for third with nine passing touchdowns. He's fifth in total QBR and is coming off a brilliant performance against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football.
The schedules lined up with the Panthers being on a bye week to allow Young to make the trek over to Tuscaloosa for Saturday's showdown between undefeated Alabama and undefeated Georgia.
Young had two high-profile matchups with Georgia during his career with the Crimson Tide, both during the 2021 season. Young clinched the Heisman Trophy with a brilliant performance in the SEC Championship Game to lead the Crimson Tide to a 41-24 win over the Bulldogs.
Young threw for 421 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Georgia got the last laugh in the rematch, but Young was severely hindered by injuries to his top two wide receivers, including Jameson Williams, who tore his ACL in the first quarter of the National Championship Game.
With rain forecast in the morning, GameDay will move inside and broadcast live from Coleman Coliseum. That will knock out some of the excitement, but the good news is that the current forecast for Saturday night's game is pretty dry. Weather shouldn't be as big of a factor as originally expected.
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