Inside College GameDay at James Madison University

"College Game Day" comes to James Madison University, with head coach Curt Cignetti and fans rallying against NCAA's decision.

ESPN's "College Game Day" crew sat on set in front of Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, for a 2018 game between Clemson and Texas A&M. Fast forward to 2021, and the "College GameDay" show has made its way to James Madison University's Quad, where the JMU head football coach, Curt Cignetti, appeared on the wildly popular ESPN pre-game show. The show, known for its live outdoor broadcasts, draws huge and loud crowds, and JMU was no exception. A day before the actual show went on the air, an estimated 1,000 people cheered for Cignetti and expressed their dissatisfaction with the NCAA's decision to deny JMU a bowl waiver. The high-exposure broadcast from the Harrisonburg campus comes ahead of JMU's Sun Belt Conference showdown against Appalachian State, with a perfect 10-0 record heading into Week 12. The team is ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll, and the "GameDay" broadcast is expected to draw the largest crowd yet at JMU. The excitement surrounding the event was palpable, with social media buzzing as trucks carrying equipment pulled into campus and the "GameDay" orange bus arrived. "GameDay" host Rece Davis expressed his support for JMU, stating that the NCAA should have granted the waiver. The show also featured discussions about the teams, the campus, and the controversy surrounding the bowl snub. Desmond Howard, a Heisman Trophy winner and "GameDay" personality, praised the atmosphere at JMU and expressed his disagreement with the NCAA's decisions. The "College GameDay" broadcast from JMU is a testament to the university's pride and the growing success of its football program. The show is set to air live from JMU on ESPN, with the JMU-Appalachian State game following on ESPN Plus.