UVA basketball has not hosted ESPN’s College Gameday since 2019, the year Tony Bennett’s squad won the national title, and Saturday’s duel with North Carolina looked like a prime opportunity for the pregame show to make its return to Charlottesville in 2026.
The Cavaliers are now in the top-15 of the AP poll, and just two weeks ago, UNC was as high as No. 12. Instead, College Gameday will head to Lubbock, Texas, ahead of No. 12 Texas Tech hosting No. 6 Houston.
With that potential opportunity now in the rearview mirror for Virginia fans, we’re taking a look at the chances to host for the rest of the season, including whether Virginia’s road opponents have an opportunity to do so while the Cavaliers are in town.
UVA has six Saturday games remaining, three of which are at home against Syracuse (Feb. 7), Miami (Feb. 21), and Virginia Tech (March 7). While none of those teams are currently ranked, things can change quickly in college basketball. The Miami one is particularly intriguing.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how Virginia’s Saturday matchups stack up the rest of the year.
Jan. 24 vs. No. 22 North Carolina, 2 p.m. on ESPN
This was Virginia’s best chance of hosting coming into the season and as recently as two weeks ago.
The Cavaliers are on a roll, having won five straight to start 2026, including a trio of road games at NC State, then-No. 20 Louisville, and SMU. However, UNC has now lost three of its last four games, all to unranked teams, including its past two games to Stanford and California. After being ranked No. 12 in the AP poll two weeks ago, the Tar Heels have now dropped ten spots to No. 22.
So, despite Virginia’s continued rise in the rankings up to No. 14 in Monday’s latest AP Top 25, the Virginia-North Carolina rivalry was snubbed in favor of No. 12 Texas Tech hosting No. 6 Houston.
As always, the near certainty that the show will go to both UNC-Duke games looms as a notable factor, too. With those two weeks typically locked up, it leaves just five other weeks open to other matchups.
Notable games:
No. 6 Houston at No. 12 Texas Tech, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN (selected)
No. 11 Illinois at No. 4 Purdue, 3 p.m. on FOX
Jan. 31 at Boston College, 1:30 p.m. on The CW
This has no chance, even if you ignore the fact that the game is on The CW rather than an ESPN network. It’s at Boston College, and the Eagles are currently 8-10, including 1-4 in the ACC, tied for second-to-last behind only Florida State. They lost to FAU, Central Connecticut State, Davidson, and Tulane, all in November. And then December brought a loss to UMass.
Boston College picked up its only power conference win of the season thus far this past Saturday against Syracuse in overtime. Jan. 31 doesn’t feature a great slate otherwise, with only one ranked vs. ranked matchup, No. 13 BYU at No. 19 Kansas, but there is no chance whatsoever that College Gameday heads to Chestnut Hill on Jan. 31.
Notable games:
No. 13 BYU at No. 19 Kansas, 4 p.m., network TBA
UR Kentucky at No. 20 Arkansas, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
No. 8 Gonzaga hosts 17-3 St. Mary’s, 10:30 p.m. on ESPN
Feb. 7 vs. Syracuse, Noon, TV network TBA
Considering the loss to Boston College, you might think that Syracuse is having a similarly poor season, but that’s not entirely the case. While the Orange did lose three times in November, they all came to good teams: then-No. 3 Houston, Kansas, and then-No. 15 Iowa State. December featured an upset of then-No. 13 Tennessee but also home losses to unranked Hofstra and Clemson.
Even if both UVA and Syracuse were to go undefeated until this game, it would still have no chance of hosting College Gameday for one reason only: it is the same day as Duke-UNC. The Blue Devils and Tar Heels are already scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN, and I can’t recall the last time ESPN did not go to that game.
This first meeting is in Chapel Hill, but even if the Tar Heels were to continue their recent stretch of poor form, this game is too much of a ratings juggernaut for ESPN to go anywhere else, even on a day that currently features two different matchups of top-13 teams.
Notable games:
No. 5 Duke at No. 22 North Carolina, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
No. 11 Illinois at No. 10 Michigan State, 8 p.m. on FOX
No. 6 Houston at No. 13 BYU, 10:30 p.m. on ESPN
Feb. 14 vs. Ohio State (in Nashville), 8 p.m. on FOX
Virginia plays Ohio State in Nashville, Tenn., so again, no chance for College Gameday here either. The Buckeyes – 12-5 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten so far – have multiple common opponents with UVA. They beat Notre Dame by one point in mid-November and lost to Pitt by one the day after Thanksgiving. They also beat Northwestern 86-82 in Evanston, Ill., back in early December, not long after UVA’s win over the Wildcats. The Buckeyes also played then-No. 12 UNC in late December, losing 71-70 in Atlanta, Ga.
More recently, Ohio State nearly upset No. 10 Nebraska at home, ultimately falling 72-69. And before meeting Virginia in Nashville, the Buckeyes will face No. 3 Michigan twice, so a lot could still change for the Buckeyes.
But again, the neutral site setting makes all of the above effectively irrelevant for College Gameday purposes. ESPN will have its choice of a few great matchups this week, but it seems safe to assume this one won’t be considered, regardless of how good the teams play until then.
Based on how things currently stand, undefeated and top-ranked Arizona should like its chances to host with Texas Tech coming to town. Arizona, and to a slightly lesser extent Iowa State, could be in contention to host Feb. 28, too, which could factor into which school is ultimately chosen for Feb. 14.
Notable game(s):
No. 12 Texas Tech at No. 1 Arizona, tipoff time & network TBA
No. 18 Clemson at No. 5 Duke, Noon on ESPN
No. 19 Kansas at No. 9 Iowa State, 1 p.m. on ABC
UR Kentucky at No. 16 Florida, 3 p.m. on ABC
Feb. 21 vs. Miami, 2 p.m., TV network TBA
Virginia and Miami are both among the four ACC teams with one conference loss or fewer to this point. The Hurricanes are 15-3 overall with losses to then-No. 10 Florida and No. 9 BYU back in November as well as one on the road at No. 22 Clemson this past Saturday. The ‘Canes had rattled off 10 straight wins before losing to the Tigers. Despite the loss, Miami still received votes in the latest AP Top 25 released on Monday.
In order for this game to be considered for College Gameday, the Hurricanes almost certainly need to move into the top-25 at bare minimum and likely lose no more than once between now and Feb. 21, especially considering Arizona-Houston is currently a top-six matchup. Iowa State-BYU is another one worth keeping an eye on. Duke-Michigan is in Washington, D.C., so that shouldn’t get any consideration despite the caliber of the matchup.
The Hurricanes have been lightsout against weaker opponents but have managed just a 1-3 record in Quad 1 games. But between now and Feb. 21, they have a few potential opportunities to pick up Quad 1 wins when they travel to Syracuse (75th in NET) and NC State (34th) and host UNC (29th). Miami would need the Orange to stay inside that top-75 for that road game to count as Quad 1, and likewise for UNC staying in the top-30.
Miami would likely need to avoid a loss between now and when ESPN makes its decision. Even then, beating out both Houston hosting Arizona and BYU hosting Iowa State will be hard to do.
Notable games:
No. 1 Arizona at No. 6 Houston, 3 p.m. on ABC
No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 5 Duke, in Washington, D.C., 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
No. 2 UConn at UR Villanova, 7:00 p.m., network TBA
No. 9 Iowa State at No. 13 BYU, 10:30 p.m. on ESPN
Feb. 28 at No. 5 Duke, Noon, TV network TBA
Duke is ranked No. 5 in the country and has lost only once this year, 82-81 to Texas Tech in New York City. The NET Ranking has them No. 2 in the country overall, courtesy of eight Quad 1 wins, the most in the country.
The Blue Devils have five wins against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 with six more still on the schedule including UVA.
Virginia travels to Cameron Indoor Stadium this year, and the way things are trending for both teams it is very likely going to be one of the best games of the week. That said, College Gameday is almost certainly going to be in Durham on March 7 for the second Duke-UNC matchup, so it will take a lot to convince ESPN to either ditch the Duke-UNC rivalry or go to Durham two weeks in a row.
Arizona, Iowa State, or Florida are the top contenders as things stand currently, although Iowa State may be hurt by its game being on CBS Sports Network instead of ESPN. How things play out in the Big 12 the next month will be critical to how this week’s host is ultimately chosen.
Notable games:
No. 23 Louisville at No. 18 Clemson, tipoff time & network TBA
No. 19 Kansas at No. 1 Arizona, 4 p.m. on ESPN
No. 12 Texas Tech at No. 9 Iowa State, 4 p.m. on CBSSN
No. 20 Arkansas at No. 16 Florida, 8:30 p.m., network TBA
No. 8 Gonzaga at UR Saint Mary’s, 10:30 p.m on ESPN
March 7 vs. Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m., TV network TBA
Since losing to the Hokies in Blacksburg on Dec. 31, Virginia has found arguably its best form of the year with road wins at NC State, Louisville, and SMU as well as a pair of dominant home performances against California and Stanford. Conversely, Virginia Tech has won just two of its five games in 2026 with losses on the road at Wake Forest and SMU as well as a home loss to Stanford. The Hokies did pick up wins against Cal and Notre Dame at home.
There is a long way to go until this matchup, so perhaps the Hokies will rebound. More likely, however, is that they maintain their position in the middle of the ACC standings and this matchup stays out of the national spotlight. Regardless, Durham will be almost certainly be the site for College Gameday for the final Saturday of the regular season, especially considering it looks like a potentially lackluster slate otherwise.
Notable games:
No. 23 Louisville at UR Miami, 2 p.m. on ESPN
No. 16 Florida at UR Kentucky, 4 p.m. on ESPN
No. 22 North Carolina at No. 5 Duke, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
No. 12 Texas Tech at No. 13 BYU, 10:30 p.m. on ESPN
My College Gameday Host Predictions:
These are based on current rankings and records, not projecting how teams could rise or fall. I’m assuming they go to both Duke-UNC games and otherwise avoid repeat hosts and matchups. I would not be surprised if they skipped Arizona on Feb. 14 with the assumption they’ll go there Feb. 28 instead.
Jan. 31 – Kansas (2nd choice: Gonzaga)
Feb. 7 – UNC (2nd choice: Michigan State)
Feb. 14 – Arizona (2nd choice: Iowa State)
Feb. 21 – Houston (2nd choice: BYU)
Feb. 28 – Florida (2nd choice: Arizona, if not Feb. 14)
March 7 – Duke (2nd choice: BYU, if not Feb. 21)
Best Chance for UVA to Host:
It’s clearly Feb. 21 vs. Miami, but as things currently stand, this game is likely no better than the third choice that day.
I don’t see much of a chance otherwise – Syracuse and Virginia Tech have little to no chance of being ranked, and a ranked matchup is typically an unspoken prerequisite to hosting College Gameday. Miami going on another long win streak is the best bet for Virginia fans who want to see College Gameday return to John Paul Jones Arena this season.
