Scenes from ESPN's 'College GameDay' from the Bison vs. SDSU rivalry game in Brookings

102719.S.FF.GameDay.01.jpg — ESPN College GameDay personalities Desmond Howard, Reece Davis, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit begin their broadcast on Saturday in Brookings, S.D. David Samson / The Forum

By Eric Peterson

October 29, 2019 at 3:54 PM

BROOKINGS, S.D. — ESPN's "College GameDay" took over the College Green plaza on the campus of South Dakota State on Saturday morning, preceding the Dakota Marker football game between North Dakota State and SDSU.

Brookings hosted the popular three-hour college football preview show for the first time, while Fargo has hosted the show twice, in 2013 and 2014. An estimated crowd of around 8,000 fans filled the area in front of and around the stage.

The No. 1-ranked Bison and No. 3-ranked Jackrabbits have been two of the top programs in NCAA Division I FCS in recent years. NDSU has won seven of the past eight FCS national championships.

Below are some of the scenes from the "College GameDay" festivities that wrapped up at 11 a.m.

#ESPNCollegeGameDay starts in Brookings. #NDSUBison #GoJacks #FCS pic.twitter.com/iwvD2X5UX6
— Eric Peterson (@FargoBigE) October 26, 2019

#ESPNCollegeGameDay in Brookings. #NDSUBison #GoJacks #FCS pic.twitter.com/J9F0Cfi4Z9
— Eric Peterson (@FargoBigE) October 26, 2019

#ESPNCollegeGameDay at Brookings. #NDSUBison #GoJacks #FCS pic.twitter.com/bFfcLBd820
— Eric Peterson (@FargoBigE) October 26, 2019

Sweet Caroline at #ESPNCollegeGameDay in Brookings. #NDSUBison #GoJacks #FCS pic.twitter.com/MiZYoVOz9x
— Eric Peterson (@FargoBigE) October 26, 2019

The show's big finish with picks on the Dakota Marker game, including personalities Pat McAfee and Lee Corso.

#ESPNCollegeGameDay with part of the picks for Dakota Marker game. #NDSUBison #GoJacks #FCS pic.twitter.com/FZtBJIHTVV
— Eric Peterson (@FargoBigE) October 26, 2019

Never pick against family. #Corso #BisonFam #DakotaMarker pic.twitter.com/iYJUzxqrdN
— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) October 26, 2019

Some of my video from this morning at College Gameday. Full report coming up on @WDAYnews. pic.twitter.com/XMorcEvrQH
— Dom Izzo (@DomIzzoWDAY) October 26, 2019

Forum photographer David Samson captured the festive atmosphere from the event.

102719.S.FF.GameDay.02.jpg — NDSU fans Will Spaulding, Alannah Beck, James Stewart, Addie Long, Chris Nielsen and Randy Long display replica title trophies during ESPN College GameDay in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

102719.S.FF.GameDay.03.jpg — NDSU fan Quade Erickson, 6, from Moorhead holds a sign during ESPN College GameDay in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

102719.S.FF.GameDay.04.jpg — NDSU flags fly in the predawn hours for the ESPN College GameDay broadcast from Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

102719.S.FF.GameDay.05.jpg — NDSU fans watch the activities from the back of the crowd during the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

102719.S.FF.GameDay.06.jpg — Lee Corso fires up the crowd while displaying helmets to hype the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

102719.S.FF.GameDay.07.jpg — Lee Corso holds up a South Dakota State sign as Kirk Herbstriet has a laugh during the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

102719.S.FF.GameDay.08.jpg — NDSU mascot Thundar greets South Dakota State fans during ESPN College GameDay in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

102719.S.FF.GameDay.09.jpg — SDSU fans display their signs during the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

102719.S.FF.GameDay.11.jpg — SDSU fans arrive before sunrise for the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

102719.S.FF.GameDay.10.jpg — SDSU fans arrive for the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

Great to have my guy @PatMcAfeeShow on @CollegeGameDay!! Always entertaining and spot on!! Hope to have him on again SOON! pic.twitter.com/1fa1y31hvc
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) October 26, 2019

1/8: NDSU fans Will Spaulding, Alannah Beck, James Stewart, Addie Long, Chris Nielsen and Randy Long display replica title trophies during ESPN College GameDay in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

2/8: NDSU fan Quade Erickson, 6, from Moorhead holds a sign during ESPN College GameDay in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

3/8: NDSU flags fly in the predawn hours for the ESPN College GameDay broadcast from Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

4/8: NDSU fans watch the activities from the back of the crowd during the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

5/8: Lee Corso fires up the crowd while displaying helmets to hype the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

6/8: Lee Corso holds up a South Dakota State sign as Kirk Herbstriet has a laugh during the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

7/8: NDSU mascot Thundar greets South Dakota State fans during ESPN College GameDay in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

8/8: SDSU fans display their signs during the ESPN College GameDay broadcast in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday, Oct. 26. David Samson / The Forum

By Eric Peterson

Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.