It’s official: ESPN’s “College GameDay” has arrived in the Steel City.

Crew members from one of the sports network’s marquee shows flew into Pittsburgh Monday to lay the groundwork for this weekend’s televised football matchup between Pitt and Notre Dame, ESPN spokeswoman Amanda Brooks told TribLive.

The crew quickly started meeting with Steelers and Acrisure Stadium staffers to map out broadcast logistics — “and just to make sure we’re all square,” Brooks said.

One Herculean task lies ahead of them: building a fan-accessible set on Acrisure Stadium’s Great Lawn before the crowds storm the stadium Saturday morning. It’s pegged to open to the public at 6:30 a.m.

Much is on the line this weekend.

The No. 24 Panthers (7-2, 5-1 ACC) and No. 10 Fighting Irish (7-2), whose highly anticipated matchup will kick off at noon, were ranked in the first College Football Playoff release last week. Both teams are riding lengthy winning streaks into Saturday’s showdown.

We’ll be outside Acrisure Stadium for our first Saturday show in the Steel City in 20 years!@PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/Fj60IytzCq

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 9, 2025

Notre Dame has won seven straight games after starting the year 0-2. Pitt is undefeated — notching a 5-0 record — since Mason Heintschel took the helm as starting quarterback Oct. 4.

The University of Pittsburgh has appeared on “College GameDay” four times, Brooks said. That includes Sept. 1, 2022, a Thursday season-opener and the first installment of the Backyard Brawl since 2011.

The Panthers beat West Virginia, 38-31, that night.

But Pitt hasn’t hosted a weekend game at home for “College GameDay” in decades — since Sept. 3, 2005, to be precise. Notre Dame trounced Pitt then, out-passing and out-rushing the Panthers in a 42-21 win.

Getting ready for a national broadcast is no small task, Brooks said. And the number of bodies set to jump into the broadcasting trenches reflects that.

“We have several hundred employees and staffers coming into town for this,” Brooks said.

The big story for ESPN, though, is the homecoming for “College GameDay” analyst Pat McAfee, Brooks said. McAfee, a retired Indianapolis Colts punter who appeared in Super Bowl XLIV and two Pro Bowls, grew up in Plum.

McAfee also is set to host his kicking contest Saturday, where a Pittsburgher with a solid leg and good aim could win up to $500,000, Brooks said. The first 300 fans to enter the “College GameDay” set on the Great Lawn Saturday morning will get raffle tickets for a chance to enter the contest.

University of Utah student Jonah Knubel took home $500,000 for himself and charity after nailing a field goal less than two weeks ago.

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