ESPN's GameDay headed to Philly for No. 21 Temple vs. No. 9 Notre Dame

PHILADELPHIA — ESPN's "College GameDay" will broadcast from Independence Mall in Philadelphia on Saturday as No. 21 Temple hosts No. 9 Notre Dame in one of the most significant games in the school's history.

The network announced the decision Monday. Pullman, Washington, where No. 8 Stanford is playing Washington State, was a possible contender.

Temple students, alumni and fans lobbied ESPN on social media after the Owls rallied late to beat East Carolina last Thursday for its first ever 7-0 start.

Mayor Michael Nutter enlisted the team of advisers that coordinated Pope Francis' visit last month to help ESPN secure its historic broadcast location.

Temple-Notre Dame is the only matchup of ranked opponents this weekend. It's Temple's first appearance in ABC's primetime game of the week.

The only previous "GameDay" in Philadelphia was for the 2002 Harvard-Penn game. The hometown Quakers won 44-9.