or


[04/22/26 - 09:29 AM]
Stage Set in the Steel City: ESPN's "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" to Air Live from the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh
The Draft marks ESPN's first major event of the 2026 football season, culminating with ESPN's first-ever Super Bowl on February 14, 2027.
[via press release from ESPN]

Stage Set in the Steel City: ESPN's "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" to air live from the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh

· College GameDay Built by The Home Depot to air live from the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh at 5 p.m. ET Thursday and Friday on ESPN

· Fernando Mendoza (quarterback, Indiana) and Head coaches Ryan Day (Ohio State), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame) and Mario Cristobal (Miami) join the broadcast live

ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will return to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft, connecting college football's biggest storylines to the next generation of NFL stars. The Draft marks ESPN's first major event of the 2026 football season, culminating with ESPN's first-ever Super Bowl on February 14, 2027.

GameDay will air a special two-hour kickoff show on Thursday, April 23, beginning at 5 p.m. ET and followed by the 2026 NFL Draft at 8 p.m. on ABC. 2026 marks the ninth season the premier college football pregame show has originated from the NFL Draft. On Friday, a one-hour edition of GameDay will begin at 5 p.m., leading into ABC's 7 p.m. telecast of the Draft. This is GameDay's second trip to the Steel City in five months, as the show originated from Acrisure Stadium in Week 12 (Nov. 15, 2025).

ESPN host Rece Davis will anchor both College GameDay Built by The Home Depot and ABC's NFL Draft coverage on Thursday and Friday. Davis will be joined by GameDay analysts Kirk Herbstreit, former Ohio State quarterback; Desmond Howard, Heisman Trophy winner at Michigan, former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl XXXI MVP; and Hall of Fame college football head coach Nick Saban. College football insider Pete Thamel will provide the latest news and information throughout the broadcasts.

On Thursday, GameDay reporter Jen Lada will contribute on-site while college football reporter Molly McGrath interviews draftees live on the red carpet before heading to the green room to speak with players' families after their names are called.

In addition, senior NFL insider Adam Schefter will contribute to GameDay alongside NFL Draft analyst Field Yates, college football analyst Joey Galloway and GameDay's sports betting analyst "Stanford Steve" Coughlin.

Steel-ing the Stage

Former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will join GameDay from Miami ahead of the first round of NFL Draft on Thursday for a live interview.

Also during Thursday's telecast, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman will join GameDay live on set. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal will also join Thursday's edition of GameDay live from the green room.

Other guests will join Thursday and Friday's GameDay with updates and additional announcements available via @ESPNPR.

-30-





  [april 2026]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)




[05/22/26 - 07:17 AM]
ESPN Films and Wakai Announce Global Premiere of "FC Barcelona: Sonar, jugar y ganar"
The documentary premieres in the U.S. on Saturday, May 23 at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and streaming on ESPN+.
[05/22/26 - 07:11 AM]
Video: Back to Where It All Began - Official Teaser for "Vought Rising" Revealed
The prequel to the global hit series "The Boys" will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in 2027.
[05/22/26 - 07:01 AM]
First Picture of Charlie Heaton in "Peaky Blinders" Reveals His Role as Charles Shelby
The new chapter will premiere globally on Netflix - and on BBC iplayer and BBC One in the UK.
[05/22/26 - 04:27 AM]
Video: "Maa Behen" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When trouble knocks on her door, a mother and her estranged daughters attempt to cover up a crime in a nosy colony where no secret is safe.
[05/21/26 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "Husbands in Action" - Official Teaser - Netflix
A detective teams up with his ex-wife's new husband to chase down her kidnappers. Can this unlikely duo put aside their differences for one wild rescue?
[05/21/26 - 02:32 PM]
ESPN Delivered Most-Watched NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 Since 2018
The New York Knicks overtime victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 19 generated an average audience of 7.1 million viewers and peaked with 8.87 million viewers at 10:45 p.m. ET.

[05/21/26 - 02:00 PM]
"Survivor" Historic 50th Season Concludes with Most-Watched Finale Since 2020
The season finale drew an average of 5.78 million viewers, based on Nielsen Preliminary panel only data.
[05/21/26 - 12:00 PM]
What's New on HBO Max This June
Highlights include the return of "House of the Dragon" and the debut of "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness."
[05/21/26 - 11:00 AM]
A24's "How to Make a Killing" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max June 19
Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.
[05/21/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu Original "Hannah Berner: None of My Business"
Hannah Berner delivers her most vulnerable material yet - questioning her future, exposing her unorthodox career path, dishing dating secrets and admitting she's "part-time hot" in this sensational sophomore special.
[05/21/26 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That's the Weight of the World)" Debuts June 7
Acclaimed producer, director, and musician Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson tells the story of the legendary nine-time Grammy Award-winning band.
[05/21/26 - 10:00 AM]
The Tony Awards to Feature Showstopping Performances by All of the Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical Nominees
Additional performances will be announced in the coming weeks.
[05/21/26 - 09:02 AM]
HBO Max Announces the Debut of HBO Original "House of the Dragon" with American Sign Language (ASL) to Mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Season one with ASL will debut on May 29, followed by season two on June 15.
[05/21/26 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Releases Trailer and Key Art for All-New Season of Fan-Favorite Mystery Thriller "Harry Wild" Premiering Monday, June 22 on Acorn TV
Season five marks a highly anticipated on-screen reunion between Jane Seymour, who stars and executive produces, and Joe Lando, her longtime co-star from the beloved Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman."
[05/21/26 - 08:16 AM]
"Emily in Paris" Begins Production in Greece for the 6th and Final Season
Since its debut in 2020, Seasons 1-5 have spent 32 weeks on the Netflix Global Top 10 list, reached #1 in 90 countries, and accumulated over 250 million views.