Caitlin Clark is returning to Iowa City in a special role, as the former Iowa basketball star has been announced as the guest picker for ESPN’s College GameDay. The announcement came ahead of Iowa’s matchup with Ohio State on Saturday.
The appearance marks Clark’s return to the University of Iowa, where she became one of the most celebrated players in college basketball history. She spent four seasons with the Hawkeyes from 2020 to 2024 before being selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Draft.
College GameDay is broadcasting live from Iowa City for the first time in two decades. The show is taking place at the Pentacrest before the highly anticipated Big Ten matchup between Iowa and Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium.
Clark’s selection comes shortly after the end of her WNBA season with the Indiana Fever. Her return to Iowa has generated significant attention from fans, particularly because of her strong connection with the Hawkeyes and the Iowa community.
During her college career, Clark became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer with 3,951 points. She also led Iowa to two consecutive national championship-game appearances and became a two-time national player of the year.
The Ohio State-Iowa matchup is one of the major games of the college football weekend. Iowa entered the game with a 4–0 record after a dramatic 20–19 victory over Michigan, while Ohio State entered at 3–1.
Clark joined the College GameDay crew alongside host Rece Davis and analysts including Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban. Her role was to make picks for several of the weekend’s biggest college football games.
For Iowa fans, the appearance offered a chance to welcome back one of the biggest stars in the university’s recent history. Clark’s presence also added another storyline to an already highly anticipated football weekend in Iowa City.
The College GameDay appearance comes during a busy period for Clark. Her first signature Nike shoe, the Caitlin 1, was released earlier in the week, adding another major moment to her return to Iowa.
