ESPN College GameDay is headed to Knoxville in just over 12 hours, and the excitement is already building. Why not? Tennessee is set to take on Georgia in a marquee SEC showdown. And the Volunteers have hosted GameDay 11 times before, with a 5-6 record in those appearances. Still, history isn’t everything. Tennessee has won three straight GameDay matchups, including that unforgettable upset over then-No. 3 Alabama in October 2022. Now, momentum, energy, and a hungry crowd: all signs that the Vols are ready to make noise again. But here’s the twist you didn’t see coming.

On September 12, College GameDay dropped a late bomb: Tennessee’s last-minute announcement put ESPN’s show in a tricky spot. Now, fans who were hoping to stake their claim early got an unexpected curveball. And the official College GameDay account quickly clarified: no camping out overnight from Friday into Saturday. So, while plans have changed, the excitement may remain high, but the rules are clear. And the fans might find themselves in a bind.

Although College GameDay is keeping the energy high, writing, “Can’t wait to see you tomorrow with your best signs!” on social media. But Tennessee’s late announcement has raised some eyebrows. “College GameDay fans planning to come to our show tomorrow in Knoxville, please be aware that the University has let us know that fans will not be able to line up between 10PM-5AM ET,” the show added. Now, with the Vols’ announcement in place, fans can queue starting at 5 a.m. ET, and the fan pit will open at 6:30 a.m. as planned. Still, the buzz is building, and the rules couldn’t be clearer. So, what’s waiting around the corner?

ESPN announced Volunteers legend Candace Parker will join the GameDay crew as Week 3’s celebrity guest picker. Parker is a two-time NCAA champion, two-time John R. Wooden Award winner, and three-time WNBA champion. On top of that, her picks are usually a highlight, and fans were excited for her insight. But Tennessee’s late announcement on fan rules could temper some of that hype. So, the star power is there, but the sudden change has shifted the buzz. And fans can’t resist chiming in with their takes.

The fans spoke aloud on College GameDay

The Bulldogs (2-0) travel to Neyland Stadium to face No. 15 Tennessee (2-0) in a highly anticipated SEC clash on September 13. Here, the Volunteers enter as 4-point underdogs, looking to pull off a big upset. However, Tennessee comes in confident after a 72-17 win over East Tennessee State, highlighted by Joey Aguilar’s two TDs.

Meanwhile, Georgia is fresh off a 28-6 victory over Austin Peay. Now, with both teams undefeated and the stakes high, this matchup promises big hits. But the Vols’ announcement shifted the buzz around College GameDay and college football fans. And one fired-up fan wrote, “They know 100,000 people would be there at 10PM. BOX OFFICE VOLS.” This was only the start; comments quickly began pouring in.

One fan couldn’t help but draw a comparison to last year’s chaos at Cal, where the College GameDay crowd broke through the gates before the official opening. Complete pandemonium. Not enough security. “You mean we will not see this???” the fan wrote, referencing Tennessee’s late announcement. Another kept it simple, saying, “So, ‘strategic napping’ between 10 PM & 5 AM it is.” So, the buzz is still there, but the excitement has taken a new, slightly tamer turn. And fans didn’t hold back.

One fan fumed, “Leave it up to Knoxville to F a good thing up! I hope UGA kicks the hell out of them even more because of it!” Another chimed in, stating, “School sure can kill the fun of being a student.” And one fan went even further, saying, “This is what happens when you go to a second-rate school. Should be at USF Miami instead of this game. Georgia gonna beat the brakes off those sorry Vols.” So, these loud, fiery, and unfiltered reactions reiterate that College GameDay fans never hold back.