“College GameDay” is making a triumphant return to Iowa City, Iowa, after a two-decade absence, ready to spotlight the Hawkeyes’ big rivalry clash with Iowa State. This is a massive deal, especially since the program hasn’t been back to Johnson County since Iowa faced Ohio State way back when. The show kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, but here’s the kicker: with less than 24 hours to go, ESPN still hasn’t announced who their celebrity guest picker is going to be. And that silence? It’s fueling some serious chatter that none other than Caitlin Clark herself might make a comeback to her old stomping grounds.
Why Everyone’s Buzzing About a Clark Comeback
Honestly, the rumor mill is churning because a lot of this makes sense on paper. For starters, “College GameDay” chose Iowa City, which is Clark’s old home base, practically rolling out the red carpet for her. Plus, her Indiana Fever squad just got bounced in the first round of the WNBA playoffs by the Aces, so she’s probably not swamped with obligations. And get this: her signature shoe just dropped on Thursday, and it’s already a record-breaker. Nike’s putting it in 5,000 stores, which is insane compared to the usual 2,000-3,000 for basketball shoes. They even set up this sick “glint hardwood floor” with her “CC” logo on it, less than 100 feet from where the GameDay crew will be hyping up the Hawkeyes faithful. You’d think she’d be the perfect person to fire up all those yellow-and-black clad Iowa supporters, right?
The Brutal Truth: Why It’s More Complicated Than It Looks
But hold up. As awesome as it would be, it’s looking pretty unlikely that Clark will actually be there. The Fever’s season ended way too soon, a total bummer that left everyone with more questions than answers. Clark herself really struggled in that final game, racking up more turnovers than assists and hitting just six of her 18 shots. She even got an elbow to the tooth from Las Vegas’ Jewell Loyd, leaving her with a shiner. We all know Clark is hyper-competitive and was super frustrated with how things shook out for the Fever, so it doesn’t exactly sound like she’s in the mood for a big, festive event.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: her history with “College GameDay” host Pat McAfee. Back in 2024, McAfee publicly called her a “white b,” and you gotta think that kind of past isn’t exactly making her jump at the chance to appear under the program’s banner. It’s a huge deterrent, no doubt.
So, while the rumors are flying, and the setup feels almost too perfect, “College GameDay” host Rece Davis has already spilled that they’ve got a “contingency plan” in place for a “special guest.” Looks like we’ll have to wait and see who actually shows up to keep the guest-picking tradition alive.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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