So, you're looking for the bus. You’ve probably seen the social media clips of the orange and white flags flying, or maybe you just woke up and realized it’s championship weekend. If you are asking where is ESPN GameDay at today, the answer is basically "all over Miami," but technically, the main stage is hunkering down for the biggest game of the year.
The crew isn't at a standard campus quad this morning. They are currently on-site in South Florida, specifically gearing up for the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium.
But here is the thing: today is Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Since the National Championship game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes isn't until tomorrow night (Monday, Jan 19), the College GameDay schedule looks a little different than your typical Saturday morning wakeup call. There isn't a three-hour morning show today. Instead, the team is doing "hits" and segments from Miami Beach and Hard Rock Stadium throughout the day on SportsCenter.
Why isn't GameDay on right now?
Honestly, it’s a timing thing. Because the title game is on a Monday, ESPN shifts the "big" broadcast to Monday evening to serve as the ultimate pre-game show. If you flip on the TV right now, you’ll see the SportsCenter desk at the Miami Beach Convention Center for Playoff Fan Central, or maybe some segments from the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live stage at Lummus Park.
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Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, and the rest of the gang are definitely in town. They just aren't doing the full-length show with the "pick 'em" segment until Monday afternoon.
The transition to Basketball Season
While the football world is staring at Miami, you might also be confused because College GameDay for basketball actually just kicked off its season. Just yesterday, Saturday, Jan 17, the basketball version of the show was live from Lubbock, Texas.
Texas Tech fans absolutely showed out for that one. It was their second time hosting the basketball show since 2018. If you saw highlights of a rowdy crowd in a gym this morning, that was likely a replay from the Red Raiders' showdown against Houston.
Where to find the crew in Miami today
If you happen to be in the 305 and want to see the set, you've got a few options. The "GameDay" presence is split between a few iconic spots:
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- Miami Beach Convention Center: This is where "Playoff Fan Central" is happening. It’s basically a massive theme park for college football fans.
- Lummus Park (Miami Beach): This is the hub for the concert series. If you want to see the set with the ocean in the background, this is usually where they film the "atmosphere" shots.
- Hard Rock Stadium: The main stage is already built and waiting in Miami Gardens for tomorrow's 5:00 PM ET broadcast.
It’s kinda wild to think about Indiana being in the final. Nobody had that on their bingo card six months ago. Coach Curt Cignetti has turned that program into a literal movie, and the GameDay crew has been obsessing over it for weeks. On the other side, you have Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes basically playing a home game. The energy in the city is already vibrating.
Tomorrow's Big Schedule
Since the question of where is ESPN GameDay at today is really a lead-up to the big finale, you should probably mark your calendar for the actual show times.
Monday, Jan 19, the show goes live at 5:00 PM ET.
They are bringing in some heavy hitters too. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is reportedly joining the desk as a guest analyst. You'll also see the usual suspects: Pat McAfee (expect him to do something crazy in the Miami heat), Nick Saban, and Desmond Howard.
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What most people get wrong about Championship Sunday
People often wake up on the Sunday before the National Championship and expect the 9:00 AM ET music to start. It doesn't happen. Sunday is a "dark" day for the full production. It's used for media days, coaches' press conferences, and technical rehearsals.
If you are looking for live college sports today, you’re better off checking out the basketball slate. Arizona and Houston are playing a massive game at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN, which will likely feature some "GameDay-style" analysis during the halftime break.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to catch the crew or the best coverage, here is what you do:
- Check SportsCenter: Between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM today, they will have live reports from the Miami set.
- Download the ESPN App: They usually stream the behind-the-scenes "Field Pass" or "rehearsal" clips on the digital platforms on Sundays.
- Set an Alarm for Monday: If you want the real College GameDay experience, the bus officially "starts" at 5:00 PM ET on Monday, January 19, right outside Hard Rock Stadium.
- Follow the social feeds: The College GameDay TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) accounts are the only places you'll see the "off-camera" interactions between Saban and McAfee today.
The football season is almost over, so soak it in while the bus is still parked in Miami. Once Tuesday hits, it's officially basketball and "coaching carousel" season until August.