University Park, Pa. — ESPN’s popular College GameDay Built by the Home Depot program, with host Chris Fowler and analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard, will originate from the Penn State-Alabama clash on Saturday, Sept. 11 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The No. 19/14 Nittany Lions and No. 1 Crimson Tide are meeting for the first time since 1990. The contest between the national powers and old rivals will kick at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT in Bryant-Denny Stadium and air on ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.
College GameDay begins every Saturday at 9 a.m. on ESPNU and moves to ESPN from 10 a.m.-noon ET. The GameDay crew will be on ESPN and ABC with other live segments throughout the day. The public is invited to attend.
College GameDay on ESPN Radio also will originate from the Penn State-Alabama game, with coverage from noon-7 p.m. ET on ESPN Radio affiliates across the nation. Ryen Russillo is the host, with analysts Trevor Matich and Brad Edwards. This year marks the 17th consecutive season College GameDay Built by the Home Depot is originating from the site of the day’s biggest game. Fowler, Corso and Herbstreit are in their 15th season together on College GameDay.
Saturday’s broadcast marks the sixth time College GameDay has originated from a Penn State game in the past six seasons. The program was in Happy Valley for the 2005 and 2007 Ohio State contests and the 2009 Iowa game. College GameDay also originated from Penn State’s games at Michigan State (2005) and Ohio State (2008) since 2005, with the Nittany Lions winning the Big Ten Championship and a BCS berth both years.
In addition, College GameDay originated from Penn State for the 1999 Pigskin Classic against Arizona and the 1997 game against Michigan.
Coach Joe Paterno’s squad opened the season with a 44-14 win over Youngstown State on Saturday. Quarterback Rob Bolden (Orchard Lake, Mich.) delivered the best passing game by a Nittany Lion starting freshman with his 20 of 29, 239-yard effort, including two scoring strikes to senior wideout Brett Brackett (Lawrenceville, N.J). A senior co-captain, Brackett set career-highs with eight catches for 98 yards, including 20 and 22-yard touchdown catches.
The 2009 BCS national champion, Alabama opened the season with a 48-3 win over San Jose State on Saturday.
Penn State and Alabama will be meeting for the 14th time, but the first time since the Nittany Lions earned a 9-0 win in Tuscaloosa in 1990. The Crimson Tide lead the series, 8-5. The teams played every year from 1981-90, preceded by three bowl game meetings all decided by seven points (1959 Liberty, 1975 Sugar, 1979 Sugar).
