Kirk Herbstreit has become a well-known and respected college football and NFL analyst for ESPN.

These days, however, his golden retriever, Ben, has stolen Herbstreit’s spotlight. This is for a good reason, as Ben has become a fan favorite during the football season.

“It’s crazy, right. It’s been fun. He’s so welcoming to people because it’s been great,” Herbstreit said via AP News.

Uga XI, Georgia’s legendary bulldog, is typically the fan favorite across college football. But, for the time being, the popularity contest has shifted toward Ben.

Big Ben and Uga met before the start of the SEC Championship game on Dec. 2 between Georgia and Alabama. The two canines exchanged greetings and even a quick sniff of each other.

The College Football Playoff semifinals get underway on New Years Day. The semis start with the Rose Bowl at 5 p.m. between top-seeded Michigan and fourth-seeded Alabama, followed by the Sugar Bowl at 8:45 p.m. between second-seeded Washington and third-seeded Texas.

The winner of each semifinal contest will meet in the CFP National Championship at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at NRG Stadium in Houston.