George Ferguson: While it's still a longshot, College GameDay couldn't go wrong coming to the 2021 Brawl of the Wild

Will they or won't they?

That seems to be the question a lot of Montana and Montana State fans are asking right now when it comes to the debate of whether ESPN's College GameDay will be setting up shop next weekend in Missoula.

There was a time when that notion seemed impossible. Now though, there's plenty of reasons why the push to get GameDay to the Brawl of the Wild is very realistic.

First off, GameDay has been at multiple FCS venues now. For many, many years, ESPN wouldn't even consider it. But, the traditions of the Ivy League, and North Dakota State's success against FBS Power 5 teams changed that. Now, GameDay certainly keeps an eye on the FCS, and there's no doubt, ESPN understands that there is no bigger FCS game each year than the Cat-Griz game. It is unquestionably the biggest rivalry in the FCS, no matter how much the Ivy's think differently.

Another reason it's realistic to believe GameDay is at least considering Missoula for next weekend is, the college football schedule itself has changed. For a long time, the third weekend in November was Rivalry Week for ESPN and all of the FBS. Games like The Iron Bowl, Michigan/Ohio State, Florida/Florida State, Texas/Texas A&M, Oregon/Oregon State and The Apple Cup to name just a few of the bigger rivalries, were all played during Rivalry Week. With so many games like that on the same Saturday, there was absolutely no chance ESPN would ever pick Cat-Griz or any FCS game that weekend, no matter how big it was. But, when the FBS permanently went to an allowable 12-game schedule, calendar and timing of so many of those huge FCS games changed. And while there are plenty of big matches on the schedule for the third week in November, many of those games have shifted to other dates, and that at least gives games like Cat-Griz a chance to entice ESPN.

Don't underestimate influencers either. No, I'm not talking about Instagram. I'm talking about people who already have ties to ESPN helping persuade Game Day to come. And while Kirk Herbstreit might not talk up the FCS, don't think for one second that Jesse Palmer and Brent Musberger won't be helping try to convince ESPN to make this happen.

And Montana itself is doing a great job of making it happen, too. Celebrities like J.K. Simmons and Jeff Ament, among others, are pleading their case, while the University of Montana, and the Big Sky Conference have launched a monster social media campaign to get GameDay's attention as well.

Not to mention, this idea wasn't just born out of nowhere. While so many of us who love the rivalry have long fantasized about GameDay being at a Cat-Griz game, whether it be Missoula or Bozeman, this fantasy seems to have some credibility to it. This isn't just something one Griz fan cooked up and it took off from there. This seems to have more legs.

I personally still think it's a long shot for several reasons. For one, unless this is something that happened a long time ago, and has been kept a secret, which GameDay normally doesn't do, then I don't know how many high-end hotel rooms there are in Missoula for next Friday and Saturday. But I'll say, after more than 20 years of going to Cat-Griz games, there can't be many for the ESPN crew. Also, there are still some big games next weekend in the FBS. Michigan State and Ohio State is a monster matchup, as is Arkansas and Alabama, among others.

Lastly, there's the time zone and the weather. Sorry, Montanans, but not everyone likes the cold and early mornings. College GameDay comes on at 7 a.m. M.S.T. That is one reason you don't see GameDay in the Mountain or Pacific time zones as often. Not only is that early, but, it's going to be cold in Missoula, even if it's a mild day. In November, it's cold and even a little dark out at 7 a.m. in Montana and that could be a factor as well.

Sorry, I'm not trying to rain on the parade, and I really do think ESPN is considering this. There's enough evidence to suggest this isn't just a rumor. But there's a lot that also doesn't really favor it actually happening and that's why I'm not getting my hopes up.

Having said that, I am in the camp that ESPN would not regret it. The Cat-Griz game is as good as it gets at any level. The backdrop of the University of Montana campus, and Missoula is as beautiful as it gets. And before I get lambasted by Cat fans for that one, YES, Bozeman is amazingly beautiful, too, and GameDay would be just as good there. But that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about this Cat-Griz game, and no one, Cat fans included, should be against GameDay coming to the Brawl.

After all, it's a great rivalry, it's going to be a huge game again, and it would be a great thing for ALL OF US. Am I biased? You bet I am. I'm a Griz fan, I'm an alum, so, hell yes, I'm biased.

But I'm also a realist, and in reality this would be a great thing for both schools, for both football programs, for both fan bases, and most of all, being a fan of the state of Montana, it would be a great thing for the entire state, above all else.

So I hope it happens. I hope that the campaigning pays off. I think the Cat-Griz game is the perfect setting for a College GameDay. As a fan of the rivalry, I could think of nothing better than the anticipation of seeing whether Lee Corso puts on the Monte head and the crowd goes bananas, or the Champ head and Corso gets booed. Either way, what an amazing moment that would be for all of us who love this rivalry so much.

So here's hoping it really happens. We'll all find out one way or another very soon.

Editor's Note: The No. 3 Montana State Bobcats host Idaho Saturday at 1 p.m. in Bozeman. The game will be televised on SWX Montana. The No. 9 Montana Grizzlies travel to Northern Arizona. That game kicks off at 1 p.m. The game will be shown on ABC/Fox Montana.