College GameDay: Steve Smith Sr., Lil Nas X make a huge presence in Utah

ESPN College Gameday's Week 9 took place in Salt Lake City for the Pac-12 matchup between the No. 13 Utah Utes against the No. 8 Oregon Ducks. The guest picker for Week 9 was Utah's alum Steve Smith Sr., with an appearance from rapper Lil Nas X.

Both teams have a record of 6-1, with this matchup having significant College Football Playoff implications. Utah's defense ranks second in the nation, while Oregon's ranks third, which will make it a challenge to get the offense rolling for either team.

In Week 8, 'The Pig Farmer" quarterback Bryson Barnes led the Utah Utes to pull off a massive upset and defeated Heisman winner Caleb Williams and the USC Trojans 34-32, ending their dreams of winning a College Football National Championship.

Meanwhile, Bo Nix and the Oregon Ducks are coming off a 38-24 win against Washington State after a brutal 36-33 loss to Washington in Week 7.

No. 13 Utah host No. 8 Oregon at Rice-Eccles Stadium and is set for a 3:30 p.m., ET, kick off on FOX and the Fox Sports App.

How to watch: Catch football action this season with Fubo

Oregon football vs. Utah: How to watch, TV, streaming, schedules, injury report

Steve Smith Sr. picks the Utah Utes

Steve Smith Sr. was a wide receiver for the University of Utah between 1999 and 2000. During his time at Utah, he posted 20.6 yards-per-catch and set the school record. Smith Sr. was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft and spent 16 years in the league, primarily with the Panthers, but also had a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens.

Smith Sr. is a five-time Pro Bowl Selection and three-time All-Pro. It was no surprise that Smith Sr. picked Utah to upset Oregon in Week 9.

Why did Lee Corso miss GameDay in Week 9?

Lee Corso did not make his pick while wearing his signature headgear, and was absent from the ESPN College Gameday crew during Week 9. The GameDay team confirmed that Corso is in good health, but he was unable to attend due to a family matter that needed his attention.

From Pig Farmer to starting Utah QB

Bryson Barnes is a junior from Milford, Utah and walked on as a backup quarterback for the Utes in 2020. Barnes completed 12-of-18 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown en route to a season-opening 24-11 win over Florida. Barnes performance against Florida earned him a football scholarship.

Barnes has played in six games with four starts in the 2023 season and was named the Utes team caption heading into Week 8. Barnes will be the starting quarterback for Utah in Week 9 against Oregon.

College GameDay's best signs

During ESPN's College GameDay Week 9 pregame show for the Pac-12 matchup between Utah and Oregon, fans created impressive signs to wave behind the panel. Here are the best ones from Salt Lake City.

Fortunes told: Should Oklahoma and Texas be worried? Bold predictions for Week 9 in college football

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steve Smith, Lil Nas X headline College GameDay before Oregon vs. Utah