ESPN sets college football broadcast lineup
ESPN has released its broadcast teams for this season appearing across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPNU, ESPN3, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, Longhorn Network, ESPN Radio and ESPN Goal Line.
The squad includes more than 100 in-studio hosts, sideline reporters, analysts and on-air personalities.
Notable members with college football coaching or playing experience include:
- Six members of the College Football Hall of Fame: Mike Bellotti, Lou Holtz, Desmond Howard, Mark May, Chris Spielman and Andre Ware;
- Ten National Championships: Todd Blackledge (Penn State in 1982), Mack Brown (as head coach of Texas in 2005), Ed Cunningham (Washington in 1991), Brian Griese (Michigan in 1997), Lou Holtz (as head coach of Notre Dame in 1988), Danny Kanell (Florida State in 1993), Trevor Matich (BYU in 1984), Greg McElroy (Alabama in 2009), Marcus Spears (LSU in 2003) and Tim Tebow (Florida in 2006 and 2008);
- Three Heisman Trophies: Desmond Howard (1991), Tim Tebow (2007) and Andre Ware (1989);
- Ten All-Americans: Kevin Carter (1994), Desmond Howard (1991), Mark May (1980), Matt Millen (1978), David Pollack (2002, 2003 & 2004), Marcus Spears (2004), Chris Spielman (1986 & 1987), Matt Stinchcomb (1997 & 1998), Tim Tebow (2007 & 2008) and Andre Ware (1989);
- Eight Recipients of Top Player Awards: Todd Blackledge (Davey O’Brien, 1982), Desmond Howard (Maxwell Award & Walter Camp, 1991), Mark May (Outland Trophy, 1980), David Pollack (Chuck Bednarik Award & Lombardi Award, 2004), Chris Spielman (Lombardi Award, 1987), Matt Stinchcomb (William V. Campbell Trophy, 1998), Tim Tebow (Dave O’Brien, 2007 and Maxwell Award, 2007 and 2008) and Andre Ware (Davey O’Brien, 1989);
- Seven Super Bowls: Kevin Carter, David Diaz-Infante (two-time), Brian Griese, Desmond Howard (also a Super Bowl MVP), Mark May (two-time), Booger McFarland (two-time) and Matt Millen (four-time).
ESPN lead college football anchor Chris Fowler, host of College GameDay, headlines a three-analyst all-star cast featuring Kirk Herbstreit and Heather Cox on the weekly Saturday Night Football series on ABC.
Brent Musburger, analyst Jesse Palmer and reporter Maria Taylor Palmer will be the lead game announcers for SEC Network telecasts, and the three will also work Texas A&M at South Carolina, the network’s first ever game. They’ll also continue to work on-site with ESPN’s Thursday night game coverage.
New additions to ESPN’s team this season include former coaches Mack Brown and Butch Davis. NFL Draft scouting expert Todd McShay moves from the Bristol HQ to on-site games as a sideline analyst.
Per ESPN, Saturday game assignments include:
- Joe Tessitore, who will host the SEC Network’s SEC Nation from an SEC campus every Saturday (10 a.m. to noon), will return to call a weekly night game on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC with analyst Brock Huard and reporter Shannon Spake. He will work SEC Nation with Tim Tebow, Marcus Spears, Paul Finebaum and Kaylee Hartung.
- Two new teams for ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC telecasts include Mark Jones, analyst Rod Gilmore and reporter Jessica Mendoza, and Bob Wischusen, analyst Matt Millen and reporter Quint Kessenich. ESPNU will also introduce two new teams: Adam Amin with analyst John Congemi, and Clay Matvick with analyst Anthony Becht.
- Announcer Tom Hart and analyst Matt Stinchcomb will pair up to work a weekly SEC Network game.