ANN ARBOR – The biggest show in college football returned to Ann Arbor on Saturday for Michigan’s game against Texas.

ESPN College GameDay was once again held at Ferry Field, near the university’s athletic facilities. The inner oval track where Jesse Owens set three world records in 1935 was packed. The broadcast began at 9 a.m., ahead of a noon kickoff.

As has become tradition during the weekly live pre-game commentary show, Michigan and Texas fans held up humorous signs behind speakers including Michigan’s Lee Corseo, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard.

Signs joked about Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who played as a freshman at rival Ohio State, and actor Matthey McConaughey, who was scheduled to appear on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff at the same time.

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, who trained at the school after winning six gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, served as the show’s celebrity guest picker, choosing Michigan over Texas. Actor Will Ferrell also appeared on the show.

Saturday marked the first time the show has appeared in Ann Arbor since 2018 for a game other than the storied Michigan-Ohio State rivalry: On Oct. 13, 2018, the No. 12 Wolverines defeated No. 15 Wisconsin 38-13. Michigan boasts the third-most appearances of all time on the show, having appeared 40 times.

In addition to Phelps, Farrell and McConaughey, Michigan basketball star Derek Jeter, Cooper Manning and Chris Webber were also in Ann Arbor for the game.

Michigan and Texas face off in their first meeting in Ann Arbor at noon. Michigan is ranked No. 10 in the country, while the Longhorns are ranked No. 3.