Pep bands will once again take center stage in the Game Day Live division of UCA/UDA College Nationals, and it's all happening this weekend, January 16-18 at Walt Disney World Resort's ESPN Wide World of Sports.

• UCA/UDA College Nationals 2026 Watch Guide 📺
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The Game Day Live division allows collegiate and high school bands across the country to perform alongside cheer and dance teams in competition to represent their schools on a national stage.

The best part: With a FloMarching subscription, you also gain access to everything on Varsity TV, including the 2026 UCA/UDA College Nationals. You can view their full event schedule here.

2026 UCA/UDA College Nationals Game Day Live, Pep Band Schedule

Friday, January 16 - Game Day Live Semis

• 1:30pm ET - Wake Forest University
• 2:05pm ET - Southwest Mississippi Community College
• 2:14pm ET - Grand Canyon University

Friday, January 16 - Game Day Live Finals

• 7:55pm ET - Game Day Live Finalist #1
• 8:16pm ET - Game Day Live Finalist #2
• 8:28pm ET - Game Day Live Finalist #3
• 9:15pm ET - Game Day Live Awards Ceremony

Saturday, January 17 - College Pep Band Finals

• 2:45pm ET - Southwest Mississippi Community College
• 2:52pm ET - Grand Canyon University 

What is Game Day Live And Why Are There Bands At A Cheer And Dance Competition?

Game Day Live is an evolution of the game day division in cheer and dance competition. The division aims to recreate the atmosphere of a Friday night or Saturday football game. The "Live" naming refers to the addition of a live performance from the participating team's drumline or pep band.

According to the UCA Divisions, Rules, and Scoring page, the score sheet is broken into four categories, each of which are assigned 20 to 30 points out of a total of 100: sound quality (20%), technical accuracy (20%), musicality and engagement (30%), and overall impression (30%).

Game Day Live was the starting point for Varsity's integration of pep band into their school-based competitions—in 2026, there will be entire competitions for the pep bands. Pep bands can compete in a variety of events including the National High School Cheerleading Championships (NHSCC), National Dance Team Championship (NDTC) and many more.

Thompson High School Wins Game Day Live Division at NDTC

How To Watch UCA/UDA College Nationals 2026

The entire event is streaming live on Varsity TV and the new FloSports app beginning January 16. With a FloMarching subscription, you also have access the entirety of the Varsity TV event catalog!

Event replays, highlights, and breaking news will be available on both FloMarching and on Varsity TV.

The rebroadcast will stream on Varsity TV with a 24-hour delay.