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There's quite a lovefest going on in the world of college football surrounding Ron Zook and the Fighting Illini. The Illini are ranked for the first time in six years, and are tied atop the Big Ten standings with Ohio State. There's legitimate talk of a conference title and trip to the Rose Bowl going on in Champaign. Even running back Rashard Mendenhall is having his name mentioned when it comes to talk of the Heisman.

It seems that Illinois is on the verge of becoming an actual football program. The only thing that could make it official would be if the Gameday crew came to town. Wait a second, what's that you said? Oh, no way!

While Zook, his staff and his players try to stay focused on this week's opponent, some university officials have no choice but to look ahead to the following game, Oct. 20 at home against Michigan.

ESPN already has contacted Illinois about the possibility of bringing its popular GameDay show to Champaign. And while nothing is certain, a visit from hosts Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard would bring a rock-show atmosphere to Memorial Stadium.

First Erin Andrews comes to town for the Wisconsin game, and now Lee Corso could be coming!? Oh what a joyous time to be alive and living in Champaign, Illinois!

This would be huge for Illinois as a program. Ron Zook and his staff are already fantastic recruiters, but now the school is going to start getting national exposure, which will only make Zook's job easier. If he can convince players like Arrelious Benn to pass up big time programs to come to a school that only won two games the previous season, just imagine what he can do with a winning program.

Upside: Hawaii. In November.

Hawaii.

Hawaii.

Downside: I'm unwilling to do the math at the moment but the show would have something like a 1 a.m. local start time. Nothing says poor execution like a visual TV show set in paradise but filmed in the pitch black of morning hours. Also, Herbie and crew might be a little sluggish working their way through the show and subsequent early-morning football. But nothing says you're living life like a 3-in-the-morning post-taping Mai Tai.

The Wariors Will Throw has circled the Nov. 23 game against Boise State. Somewhere, over the rainbow ... this will happen. But not in real life. GameDay has enough troubles making its way out west for those 6 a.m. starts, I can imagine the expenses, challenge of recreating the set and insurance issues for a trip across the Pacific Ocean into paradise weigh heavily against this. But we can dream, right?

(Via: In The Bleachers)

People have suspected it for a long time. Now it has been printed in black and white. The talking heads that host ESPN's College GameDay Show do indeed have agendas. And apparently, they don't mind you knowing.

When the final Associated Press poll was released last week, Auburn finished ninth in the poll with an 11-2 record. However, GameDay's Kirk Herbstreit voted Auburn 18th in his final poll. Chris Fowler didn't do much better, putting the Tigers 14th. How can you justify that ranking?

That's nothing more than a blatant dislike of Auburn and its program. How do you put an 11-win team with victories over the number one and number three teams in the country at the bottom of your poll? In comparison, Herbstreit ranked Notre Dame 16th in his poll, two spots ahead of Auburn. You will recall that the Irish lost to LSU 41-14 in the Sugar Bowl, a team Auburn beat in the regular season.

ESPN officials should do the right thing and fire Herbstreit and replace him with former GameDay analyst Craig James, who's now back working at the network. The Associated Press should ask Herbstreit to resign from voting in the poll. Yes, public trust is that important. He gives everyone who votes a bad name.

Here are more pictures from Saturday's Auburn-Florida contest. Like I said in an earlier post, I've never seen Jordan-Hare Stadium anymore electric and alive than Saturday night. There's no doubt it gave the Auburn players an edge...

ESPN announced Friday that it will televise second-ranked Auburn's October 14th game with Florida. The Gators are currently ranked fifth nationally and take on Alabama Saturday afternoon in the Swamp.

The match-up between the Tigers and Gators kicks off at 6:45 p.m. CST from Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium. There is still no word on whether ESPN College Game Day will be in Auburn that weekend.

However, on Thursday, ESPN personality Kirk Herbstreit commented that the network may be coming to Auburn for the Florida contest. A lot will depend on the outcome of Auburn and Florida's next opponents. The Tigers take on Arkansas next Saturday and Florida battles LSU. If both win, you can almost be assured that GameDay will be coming to Auburn.

Here's the official announcement from Auburn University:

Sept. 29, 2006

AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's football game against Florida on Oct. 14 will start at 6:45 p.m. CT at Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium and will be televised by ESPN.

It will mark the Tigers' sixth televised game this season and second by ESPN. ESPN aired Auburn's 24-17 victory at South Carolina.

Auburn is currently ranked No. 2 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, while Florida is ranked fifth.

It will be Florida's first visit to Jordan-Hare Stadium since the Tigers knocked off No. 1 Florida, 23-20, in 2001.

Auburn (5-0, 3-0 SEC) will host Arkansas (3-1, 2-0 SEC) next Saturday, Oct. 7, at 11:00 a.m. CT. The game will be televised live by CBS.