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Rece Davis reveals he was pulling for Iowa against Michigan so GameDay would visit Iowa City in Week 5
By Andrew Olson
Published:
ESPN is taking College GameDay to Iowa City for Week 5 of the 2026 college football season. The decision was impacted by Iowa’s win over Michigan, something host Rece Davis had in mind as he watched the Hawkeyes and the Wolverines.
On Sunday’s episode of the College GameDay Podcast, Davis revealed that he was cheering on the Hawkeyes, with the show’s next destination in mind.
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“I didn’t want Iowa to beat Michigan because I wanted Michigan to lose, or because I’m some big Iowa fan,” Davis said, per Awful Announcing.
“I root for the show, and it was going to be really, really good for the show if Iowa won on Saturday. They did. And now, a big showdown with Ohio State coming up next week.”
With a win over Michigan, Iowa moved up to No. 14 in the AP Top 25. Saturday in Iowa will be a top-15 matchup, as the Hawkeyes host No. 5 Ohio State.
It is GameDay‘s first trip to Iowa City in 20 years. The show last went to Iowa in 2006 when the Hawkeyes were hosting Ohio State in another top-15 showdown.
Iowa vs. Ohio State is set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.