ESPN Inks Multi-Year Deal To Keep College Football Awards at College Football HOF in Atlanta

ESPN and the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience have reached a new multiyear agreement to keep the live telecast and premier postseason awards event honoring the nation’s best position players and coaches at the popular downtown Atlanta attraction through 2020. ESPN began televising the awards from the venue in 2015, the show’s 25th year.

“This agreement ensures The Home Depot College Football Awards will remain in a venue that is as exciting and dynamic as the athletes they honor. We’re very pleased to continue offering viewers and attendees a first-class experience live from the College Football Hall of Fame for years to come,” said Pete Derzis, ESPN senior vice president, ESPN Events.

As part of the new agreement, the Hall will receive promotional time within the telecast.

“Celebrating the best coaches, players and fan bases in the game is in our DNA, said Dennis Adamovich, College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience, CEO.  As the premier destination for college football fans across the country, we are thrilled to be the home of this highly anticipated event for the next five years.” 

Each year The Home Depot College Football Awards presents nine National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) player awards, including such prestigious awards as the Bednarik, Biletnikoff and Maxwell Awards and the Outland Trophy.  Also presented are The NCFAA Contributions to College Football Award, The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, The Disney Spirit Award, and the Walter Camp All-America Team.

The 2016 installment of the awards hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard with Samantha Ponder and Tom Rinaldi reporting, took place earlier this week.