Planning on going to ESPN College GameDay for Georgia-Tennessee? Here's what you need to know

Before the Sanford Stadium PA plays The Who's 'Baba O'Riley,' fans decked in black and red or orange and white file into the stands and recruits stand on the sideline for pregame warmup, ESPN's College GameDay will broadcast from the site of one of the most anticipated games of the 2022 season.

No. 3 Georgia is set to host No. 1 Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with the SEC East title on the line.

Long before the game kicks off, ESPN's marquee college football show will air from 9 a.m. to noon and will take place at Myers Quad. This will be the eighth time College GameDay is in Athens, and the sixth-straight time it will be set up at Myers Quad.

Want to be a part of the frenzy Saturday morning to cheer on the Bulldogs and Volunteers or enjoy part of college football culture? Here's everything you need to know before heading to Myers Quad.

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What time should I arrive for ESPN's "College GameDay"?

Though the game doesn't kick off until mid-afternoon, the pregame show begins at 9 a.m. and to get prime real estate, you'll have to get there even earlier.

Per the show's guidelines, the pit will open at 6:30 a.m. and fans are selected to be in the front based on a first-come, first-serve basis. These fans in the pit are more likely to get screen time on the nationally broadcast show and because of that, ESPN encourages these fans to wear team colors.

Fans usually arrive to set before 6:30, so if you're not there by the time the pit officially opens, you're probably out of luck.

It isn't the end of the world though as hundreds of fans descend all over the area with signs, flags and spirit to be a part of the crowd.

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Be prepared for a day of walking

Parking in one of the several UGA parking garages is an option for those that are fortunate enough to get there early or pay for parking passes, but for the vast majority of fans heading to GameDay, attending the show means walking.

Downtown metered parking is available for up to four hours, but even then it's about a mile walk. If you want to walk a mile and a half, the East Campus Road Parking Deck will be open available for fans to park in for a $20 fee, per UGA Athletics.

Fortunately in the morning, the forecast calls for temperatures to hover around the mid-60s, so it won't be as draining to walk around campus as it was when GameDay was in Athens for Arkansas and Kentucky a year ago.

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What should you bring to College GameDay?

The show runs for three hours, but you could be there for even longer, so definitely come prepared.

In the pit, the following items are prohibited:

• Bags of any kind

• Food and drinks

• Pens, pencils and markers

• Dry-erase boards

• Signs on sticks

Bring a sign to support the Dawgs or make jest of the Vols, and if you don't want to bring a sign of your own, there will be stations with posters and markers to create your masterpiece.

As far as sign regulations, no vulgar signs, .com, .net, .org, political or religious signs are allowed. All signs brought to Saturday's taping will be inspected before entry.

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Will you have internet?

Maybe surprisingly, but the cell service isn't awful around the GameDay set.

Checking Twitter to see if your sign was featured, posting photos on Instagram or messaging friends through groupchats isn't impossible, though it'd be quicker the further you get away from the area.

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Are there any other pregame shows?

For the fifth time in regular season history, College GameDay and SEC Network's SEC Nation are setting up at the same school.

Marty & McGee, featuring commentators Marty Smith and Ryan McGee, will be live from the Special Collections Library from 9 to 10 a.m.

In the same location, SEC Nation will be set up from 10 a.m. to noon, hosted by Laura Rutledge alongside  Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, Jordan Rodgers and Tim Tebow.

McClain Baxley is a recruiting reporter for the Athens Banner-Herald and the USA TODAY Network. Reach him by email at mbaxley@onlineathens.com or on Twitter at @mcclainbaxley. Subscribe today to support local journalism. 

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: ESPN College GameDay guide for Georgia-Tennessee football matchup