Behind the Mic: ESPN, NBC Sports, CBS Sports Announce On-Air Talent for Upcoming NFL and College Football Season

Behind the Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this weeks edition, ESPN announced voices for the ’23-’24 college football season, Mark Jackson at ESPN to be replaced by Doris Burke and Doc Rivers.

Veteran Voices and Impressive Newcomers Highlight ESPN’s Industry-Leading College Football Coverage for 2023-24 Season

ESPN’s coverage of college football will once again feature the deepest roster of on-air personalities in the sport for the 2023-24 season – a blend of veteran voices, football’s most familiar faces and talented newcomers.

More than two dozen teams of veteran play-by-play commentators, multifaceted analysts and versatile reporters will cover the season from August’s Week 0 kickoff through the College Football Playoff National Championship in Houston in January 2024. 

Fowler, Herbstreit and Rowe Return to ABC Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and reporter Holly Rowe will team up again to call the weekly ABC Saturday Night Football Presented by Capital One marquee matchup. The 2023 season marks Fowler and Herbstreit’s 10th year in the SNF booth and their 28th season as college football teammates, beginning in 1996 on College GameDay. Fowler and Herbstreit, the five-time Sports Emmy winner, have called all nine College Football Playoff National Championship games together. Rowe, who along with Fowler was honored with a 2023 Sports Emmy nomination, joined the team in 2021 and is in her 28th college football season for ESPN and ABC. She also recently received the 2023 Naismith Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award for her contributions to basketball.

McElroy Joins McDonough and McGrath on ESPN Saturday Night Primetime
ESPN’s Saturday Night Primetime has a new look in 2023 with Greg McElroy joining Sean McDonough and reporter Molly McGrath. The Alabama National Champion quarterback has signed a long-term contract extension with ESPN and enters his eighth season calling games for ESPN and ABC. One of the sport’s leading analysts, McElroy also has studio experience on ESPN and SEC Network, in addition to hosting ESPN and Omaha Productions’ Always College Football podcast. McDonough, one of the most accomplished broadcasters of his generation, returns to Saturday Night Primetime for the fifth year in addition to serving as ESPN’s lead NHL play-by-play voice. McGrath, fresh off her second straight College Football Playoff National Championship network assignment and a Sports Emmy nomination last season, is in her fourth year on Primetime.

Additional teams for ESPN/ABC Saturday games:

• Jesse Palmer, a leading ESPN/ABC studio analyst for years, returns to the booth for the 2023 season, joining veteran play-by-play voice Joe Tessitore and multifaceted sideline reporter Katie George. Palmer, now in his 16th season at ESPN, previously served as a color analyst for ESPN Thursday Night College Football and was the first-ever lead analyst on SEC Saturday Night for SEC Network. For the better part of two decades, Tessitore has been among the premier broadcasters for ESPN and ABC’s coverage of college football, as well as the veteran blow-by-blow ringside commentator for Top Rank Boxing on ESPN and the co-host of Holey Moley on ABC. George, a versatile reporter who has covered multiple sports and events for ESPN and ABC – including the NBA, XFL, F1, NCAA Volleyball and more, returns for her fifth year on the sidelines across ESPN platforms. George has recently signed a new, multi-year contract extension.
• Bob Wischusen and Robert Griffin III are another new booth duo for 2023, joined by Kris Budden on ABC and ESPN. Wischusen, a college football, basketball, golf and NHL voice for ESPN, is also the New York Jets radio voice. Griffin III, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner and a 2023 Sports Emmy nominee, contributes to ESPN’s year-round college and NFL coverage, and has served as an analyst for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Budden is a regular on ABC and ESPN covering college football, basketball, and baseball since moving over from SEC Network following the 2018 season. Budden, who recently signed a multi-year contract extension, has also called multiple College Football Playoff National Championships on ESPN Radio.
• Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek will call games together for the third consecutive season. A versatile football and basketball play-by-play voice – who also calls Arizona Cardinals NFL games, Pasch is celebrating his 20th year at ESPN. A two-time Oklahoma Sooner captain and former NFL Draft pick, Dvoracek continues to expand his ESPN role and recently signed a new deal with ESPN. Veteran field analyst Tom Luginbill, who has been with ESPN for nearly two decades, rejoins the duo and has added XFL to his analyst responsibilities over the past year.
• Mark Jones and Louis Riddick are a new pairing for Saturdays on ABC and ESPN this fall. Jones has served as a college football commentator and leading NBA play-by-play voice for more than three decades. Riddick, who is synonymous with ESPN’s NFL game, studio and NFL Draft coverage, readies for his third college football campaign and will continue to call select Monday Night Football games. Veteran reporter Quint Kessenich, who is teaming up once again with Jones for CFB, is also one of ESPN’s top lacrosse voices and a reporter on multiple NCAA Championship events.
• Veteran play-by-play commentator Dave Flemming welcomes new teammates to the booth and sidelines this fall, as returning second-year analyst Brock Osweiler shifts to ESPN and ABC, joined by ESPN newcomer Kayla Burton. Flemming is a mainstay on college football, basketball, and baseball across ESPN platforms – in addition to serving as the longtime voice of MLB’s San Francisco Giants, while Osweiler, a former NFL quarterback and Arizona State standout, had a banner rookie season in the booth in 2022 and recently signed an extension with ESPN. Burton, a former Lehigh women’s basketball standout, has several years under her belt as a host/reporter for both collegiate and professional sports.

Lead College Networks Commentating Crews:

• SEC Network welcomes its SEC Saturday Night trio of Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic for the seventh consecutive season. Rodgers, who recently signed a multi-year contract extension, returns to SECN’s SEC Nation crew this fall as well. Cubelic has also signed a new, multi-year deal with SEC Network.
• ACC Network Primetime features a new look in 2023, as ESPN NFL and CFB analystTim Hasselbeck is joined by longtime play-by-play voice Wes Durham and ACC PM co-host Taylor Tannebaum under the lights on ACCN this fall. Details.
• Longhorn Network’s game crew will combine Lowell Galindo, Fozzy Whittaker and reporter Morgan Uber. Galindo and Whittaker, both LHN studio mainstays, each recently signed new deals with ESPN.

ESPN Newcomers Join Deep Talent Roster
In addition to Burton, ESPN has also added former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason, Miami Hurricanes standout Orlando Franklin and talented sports reporter Sherree Burruss to its college football commentator lineup:

• Mason, who boasts nearly three decades of coaching experience, teams up with longtime play-by-play commentator Dave Neal and sideline reporter Taylor Davis on SEC Network afternoon games. Neal and Davis both recently signed contract extensions with ESPN.
• A six-year NFL veteran, Franklin has worked as a sports radio host in Denver and will link up on ACC Network with returning commentators Jorge Sedano, longtime ESPN Radio and television voice, and reporter Marilyn Payne.
• Burruss, who will continue her role with NFL Network, most recently served as lead sideline reporter for CBS Sports Network and anchor for CBS Sports HQ, primarily covering college basketball and college football. Additionally, she spent two seasons on NFL sidelines reporting on games for CBS. Burruss will also call games on ACC Network with the veteran team of play-by-play Chris Cotter and Boston College star Mark Herzlich, who recently signed a contract extension with ESPN.

Additional Game Crews on ESPN Platforms:

• Returning Teams:
  • Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison and Stormy Buonantony
  • Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang
  • Tiffany Greene and Jay Walker
  • Connor Onion and Craig Haubert

• New Teams:
  • Matt Barrie, Dan Mullen and Harry Lyles
  • Anish Shroff, Andre Ware and Paul Carcaterra
  • Roy Philpott, Roddy Jones and Taylor McGregor
  • Brian Custer, Rod Gilmore and Lauren Sisler
  • John Schriffen, Rocky Boiman and Dawn Davenport
  • Jay Alter and Rene Ingoglia
  • Drew Carter and Dustin Fox
  • Courtney Lyle and Hutson Mason
  • Eric Frede and Jack Ford
  • Clay Matvick and Aaron Murray

ESPN college football contributors returning this fall include rules analysts Bill LeMonnier (Saturday Night Football) and Matt Austin (all ESPN platforms, including SEC games).

ESPN Re-Signs College Football Commentators to New Contracts
ESPN helped solidify its 2023-24 college football roster by signing multiple on-air personalities to new contracts during the offseason. In addition to the aforementioned contract extensions, ESPN re-signed the following game talent to new contracts (in alphabetical order): Jay Alter, Rocky Boiman, Stormy Buonantony, Drew Carter, Brian Custer, Dawn Davenport, Dustin Fox, Rod Gilmore, Craig Haubert, Rene Ingoglia, Alyssa Lang, Courtney Lyle, Clay Matvick, Taylor McGregor, Kirk Morrison, Aaron Murray, Connor Onion, Roy Philpott, Matt Stinchcomb, Jay Walker and Andre Ware.

ESPN Radio
Marc Kestecher, the lead voice for the NBA on ESPN Radio, continues as the top college football play-by-play commentator this season, joined by veterans Kelly Stouffer (analyst), the former NFL and Colorado State quarterback, and Ian Fitzsimmons (reporter). Longtime ESPN play-by-play commentator Mike Couzens – ESPN Radio’s top college basketball voice – will continue to call games with Florida alum and two-time Super Bowl champion Max Starks. Stouffer and Starks both recently signed extensions with ESPN.

NBC Sports Names College Football Game Announcers for 2023 Season on NBC and Peacock

This fall, NBC Sports will present 31 FBS college football games across NBC and Peacock, including primetime games on 13 consecutive weekends – both NBC Sports records.

NBC Sports’ college football game commentary teams feature a dynamic and experienced mix of play-callers, analysts, and sideline reporters. Following are NBC Sports’ college football announcers, with additional commentators to be added as the season progresses:

• Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Kathryn Tappen (sidelines) – Big Ten Saturday Nights

• Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst), Zora Stephenson (sidelines) – Notre Dame Football and select Big Ten Football games

• Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Chris Simms (analyst), Lewis Johnson (sidelines) – East Carolina vs. Michigan, as the Big Ten season kicks off one month from today, Sept. 2 on Peacock (Noon ET)

• Brendan Burke (play-by-play), Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Joshua Perry (analyst), Michael Robinson (analyst), Kyle Rudolph (analyst) Anthony Herron (analyst), and Caroline Pineda (sidelines) will call Big Ten Football games.

• • Burke serves as the lead play-by-play voice for Peacock’s MLB Sunday Leadoff package of exclusive Sunday morning MLB games. Beginning with NBC Sports in 2017, he served as a play-by-play voice of NHL and Premier Lacrosse League coverage, and called hockey at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and rowing and canoeing during the Tokyo Olympics.

• • Burmeister serves as a studio host and play-by-play commentator for NBC Sports across numerous properties, including the USFL, All-American Bowl, college basketball, and the Tour de France. Burmeister has worked five Olympics for NBC Sports, most recently during the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

• • Siciliano, a host and play-by-play announcer for NFL Network, hosted NBC Sports’ Gold Zone coverage for two Olympic Games.

• • Rudolph, a 12-year NFL veteran and two-time Pro Bowl tight end, has served as an analyst on NBC Sports’ coverage of the USFL and the 2023 Notre Dame Blue-Gold game.

• • Herron, a former NFL defensive lineman, serves as an analyst on NBC Sports’ college football coverage including the All-American Bowl and Bayou Classic, and called games during the 2023 USFL season.

• • Pineda has reported from Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold game and Football Pro Day, as well as USFL games, NBC Sports’ Atlantic 10 basketball coverage, and the 2023 SiriusXM MLB All-Star Futures Game on Peacock.

• Nicole Auerbach, who has covered college football and basketball at national media outlets since 2011, joins NBC Sports as lead college football insider. She will appear on B1G College Countdown and across college football programming on NBC Sports platforms, providing the latest from the players, coaches and schools that are making news each week. Auerbach will continue covering college football and basketball for The Athletic, in addition to her roles as a studio analyst for the Big Ten Network and a host for SiriusXM.

• NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football rules analyst Terry McAulay, a referee in 17 of his 20 NFL seasons as an on-field official, and Reggie Smith, who spent 14 years as a referee in the Big 12 (2009-2020) and Big Ten (2020-22) conferences, will serve as college football rules analysts.

“We have our gameplan for the most extensive college football season in NBC Sports history across NBC and Peacock,” says NBC Sports Executive Producer Sam Flood. “With our starting lineups now set, we are excited to kick off.”

NBC Sports’ FBS college football games announced to date:

Mark Jackson Out at ESPN; Doris Burke and Doc Rivers to Take Over as NBA Game Analysts 

Mark Jackson is out at ESPN, according to multiple reports. Jackson joins Jeff Van Gundy in being laid off by ESPN after the two had been Mike Breen’s co-analysts on the NBA Finals. They are expected to be replaced by Doris Burke and Doc Rivers, reports the New York Post. 

ACC Network Unveils Season-Long Travel Plans for ACC Huddle and ACC PM; Kelsey Riggs Named New Huddle Host

ACC Network unveiled a series of programming announcements and initiatives in anticipation of the 2023 college football season as ACC Football Kickoff officially started Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. For the first time in the Network’s history, two of ACCN’s signature programs, ACC Huddle and ACC PM, will travel to game sites each week this fall, and Kelsey Riggs will serve as the new host of ACC Huddle. It was also announced that longtime ACC football voice Wes Durham will call ACC Primetime Football games with Taylor Tannebaum serving as the new sideline reporter in addition to her ACC PM co-host role.

The 24/7 national network dedicated to ACC sports also announced: ACC Football Road Trip is returning for the third straight year with visits to all 14 campuses, Aug. 7-24; the new multi-part series All Access with Carolina Football will take fans inside the Tar Heel program (debuts Thursday, July 27); and ACCN introduced its 2023 football anthem, an evolution of its “Come for It All” brand platform. Details:

ACC Huddle and ACC PM to Travel All Season; Kelsey Riggs Named New Huddle Host

Two of ACC Network’s signature programs, ACC Huddle and ACC PM, will travel to college football game sites every week of the regular season this fall for the first time in the Network’s history. A year ago, ACC Huddle and ACC PM, the network’s newest studio show, originated from ACC campuses six times in the regular season in addition to the ACC Football Championship Game.

Kelsey Riggs, the popular host/reporter who has been a part of ACC Network since launch in 2019, will be the new host of ACC Huddle. She will be joined by analysts Eric Mac Lain, EJ Manuel, Mark Richt and Eddie Royal. The show will be live every Saturday from the site of the ACC Primetime Football game from 11 a.m. – noon ET and continuing with wall-to-wall coverage throughout the day featuring halftime reports, a primetime show from 6:30-8 p.m., and a one-hour show at the end of the day recapping all of the ACC football action and featuring live on set interviews with winning players and coaches.

Entering its sophomore season, ACC PM will feature co-hosts Mark Packer and Taylor Tannebaum. The football-focused weekday show will continue to deliver news and commentary from around the ACC, weekdays from 4-7 p.m. on ACCN. Friday editions will join ACC Huddle on the road at ACC campus sites this fall, while Monday through Thursday editions will originate from Packer’s basement studio in Charlotte.

ACC Huddle and ACC PM will be live from Blacksburg, Va., in Week 1 before ACC Primetime Football’s season-opening Old Dominion at Virginia Tech matchup on Sept. 2 (8 p.m., ACCN), followed by trips to Tallahassee on Sept. 9 (Southern Miss at Florida State) and Clemson on Sept. 16 (FAU at Clemson).

Wes Durham and Taylor Tannebaum to Join Tim Hasselbeck on ACC Primetime Football

Wes Durham, who has called ACC football games for nearly three decades and has been a prominent voice on ACCN since launch in 2019, will be the new play-by-play voice of ACC Primetime Football games this fall, joining analyst Tim Hasselbeck in the booth. ACC PM’s Taylor Tannebaum will also be part of the primetime announce team as the new sideline reporter. Their first Saturday night game will be the Hokies’ Lane Stadium opener in Blacksburg against Old Dominion on Sept. 2 at 8 p.m.

Third Annual ACC Football Road Trip to Visit All 14 Campuses, Aug. 7-24

For the third straight year, ACCN will embark on a three-week, 14-school road trip in anticipation of the upcoming season. ACC Football Road Trip begins at Florida State in Tallahassee on Monday, Aug. 7 and concludes Thursday, Aug. 24 with a visit to the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. ACCN will air a one-hour primetime show at 7 p.m. from each of the 14 campuses. The Road Trip will preview each team’s upcoming season and include exclusive interviews with head coaches and student-athletes, while showcasing unique aspects of each football program.

ACCN anchors and analysts scheduled to participate in the ACC Football Road Trip include Dalen Cuff, Wes Durham, Roddy Jones, Eric Mac Lain, EJ Manuel, Mark Packer, Mark Richt, Kelsey Riggs, Eddie Royal and Taylor Tannebaum. The complete schedule is listed below.

2023 ACC Football Road Trip Schedule:

*Commentator schedules subject to change

All Access with Carolina Football Debuts Thursday at 4 p.m.

ACC Network’s new multi-part series All Access with Carolina Football will offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the North Carolina football program leading into the 2023 season. The first episode (30 min.) will premiere exclusively on ACC Network on Thursday, July 27, at 4 p.m. at the conclusion of ACC Kickoff coverage. Part 2 (one hour) will air at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24 (following the ACC Football Road Trip special spotlighting the Tar Heels).

Part 1 of All Access introduces new members of the UNC program and shows how players spend their free time, while Hall of Fame head coach Mack Brown evaluates the offseason. Notable scenes include:

• Quarterback Drake Maye, linebacker Cedric Gray and many others mic’d up during the Spring Game
• Access with athletes at the ACC Unity Tour in Washington, D.C.
• Spring Game film room session with coaches
• Exclusive footage from players’ summer abroad studies

All Access with Carolina Football is the latest installment of ACC Network’s signature All Access series, which has provided a unique, up-close look at a number of ACC programs, including Louisville, Miami and NC State football, North Carolina men’s basketball, and the Miami and Notre Dame women’s basketball teams.

ACCN Debuts New “Come For It All” Football Anthem

ACC Network has debuted its 2023 football anthem, an evolution of its “Come for It All” brand platform. The new spots – voiced by ACCN analyst and Florida State legend EJ Manuel – lean into the pageantry, traditions, community and how ACC fans and teams deliver the “IT” factor – that special ACC feeling. The storytelling is complemented by the song “Hope” by rapper NF.

CBS Sports Unveils 2023 ‘NFL On CBS’ Announcer Lineup for its Super Bowl Season

CBS Sports has revealed its game and studio announcer lineup for the 2023 NFL ON CBS season, which will culminate in Super Bowl LVIII on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+.

Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson will return for their seventh season together, calling CBS Sports’ marquee game each week, including the network’s Thanksgiving and Christmas games, the AFC Playoffs and the AFC Championship Game. They will call their third Super Bowl together on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024.

The NFL ON CBS team will be bolstered this season by the addition of three new analysts – three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, 2016 NFL Most Valuable Player Matt Ryan and Super Bowl LIII champion Jason McCourty.

All-Pro running back Tiki Barber in his fifth season with CBS will have an expanded role with a full schedule of NFL ON CBS games, working alongside Andrew Catalon, Ryan and reporter AJ Ross.

Chris Lewis will call NFL ON CBS games for the first time, partnering with McCourty and Ross Tucker, who is in his first year as an NFL ON CBS analyst. James Lofton this season will work with Tom McCarthy and Jay Feely in a three-man booth.

The Network has also added reporters Tiffany Blackmon, Amanda Guerra and Justin Walters for select games throughout the season.

The strength and depth of the NFL ON CBS announcer lineup is further evidenced by the return of experienced teams including the Network’s No. 2 team, Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn along with the crew of Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins as well as Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta. Beth Mowins will call select games, while Amanda Renner and Aditi Kinkhabwala return as game reporters.

Gene Steratore enters his sixth year as NFL Rules Analyst.

THE NFL TODAY will feature host James Brown alongside analysts Phil Simms, Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher, and Boomer Esiason, and lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones. Watt will make appearances on THE NFL TODAY throughout the season.

Jim Rikhoff is the lead game producer for THE NFL ON CBS, and Michael Arnold is the lead game director. Drew Kaliski is the producer for THE NFL TODAY, while Bob Matina directs.

Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports, and serves as Executive Producer for THE NFL ON CBS. David Berson is President, CBS Sports. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Executive Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

The 2023 NFL ON CBS schedule begins on Sunday, Sept. 10 and is available to viewers across the country on the CBS Television Network and will stream live on Paramount+ to subscribers, who can watch NFL ON CBS games that are broadcast in their local market.

Maria Taylor, Matt Cassel, Joshua Perry, Michael Robinson, and Ahmed Fareed to Anchor NBC Sports’ Big Ten Studio Show “B1G College Countdown”

Host Maria Taylor, analysts Matt Cassel, Joshua Perry, and Michael Robinson, and co-host Ahmed Fareed will anchor B1G College Countdown, NBC Sports’ studio show for its inaugural season of B1G Saturday Night, NBC Sports announced today.

Each week, B1G College Countdown will capture college football’s unique gameday atmosphere by providing pre-game and halftime commentary from the site of that week’s primetime game – 11 Big Ten and two Notre Dame games. The show will also provide pre-game and halftime content for most of NBC Sports’ college football afternoon games throughout the season on NBC and Peacock. For Notre Dame games, the show will be called College Countdown.

Following is a look at the B1G College Countdown studio team:

• Maria Taylor: Taylor is the host of Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports, and several additional prestigious NBC Sports properties. Over an unprecedented 10-month period in 2021-22, Taylor hosted the primetime network broadcast of the NFL Draft, NBA Finals, Olympic Games in Tokyo, Super Bowl, and Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. She is the first female full-time host of Football Night and has extensive college football experience from her time at ESPN and the SEC Network. Taylor was a two-sport collegiate athlete, playing both basketball and volleyball at Georgia.

• Matt Cassel: Cassel played quarterback in the NFL for 14 seasons, spending time with the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and Detroit Lions. A seventh-round pick out of USC in 2005, Cassel’s breakout season came in 2008, when he filled in for an injured Tom Brady and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2010 after helping the Chiefs win the AFC West title. Collegiately, Cassel was a backup quarterback at USC and won two National Championships in 2003 and 2004.

• Joshua Perry: Perry enjoyed a successful college career as a linebacker for Ohio State, helping the team win the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship in 2014. He spent two seasons in the NFL, playing for the San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts before retiring due to injury. In broadcasting, Perry has been featured on the Big Ten Network and sports radio in Columbus, Ohio.

• Michael Robinson: A Super Bowl-winning fullback and Big Ten alum, Robinson is an analyst for NBC Sports’ coverage of the USFL. A fourth-round NFL Draft choice out of Penn State in 2006, Robinson spent eight seasons in the NFL, playing four with the San Francisco 49ers (2006-2009) and four with the Seattle Seahawks (2010-2013), where he capped off his career by winning Super Bowl XLVIII. Robinson was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011. During his four-year career at quarterback for Penn State, he was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and led the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten Championship his senior year, finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. Following his retirement in 2013, he has appeared as an analyst on NFL Network, including Good Morning Football: Weekend and NFL Total Access, and is now serving as the Seahawks preseason TV analyst.

• Ahmed Fareed: Fareed currently serves as a host and reporter on a variety of sport events and properties across NBC Sports, including MLB Sunday Leadoff, horse racing, Premier League, and rugby. Fareed has served as a studio host for four Olympic assignments and the past two Paralympic Games. From 2013-18, Fareed was a host and reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California, where he won two Sports Emmy awards.

“The college football atmosphere is unlike anything in sports and that’s why we’re going to be on campus every week with B1G College Countdown,” says Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports. “Matt, Joshua, and Michael hail from three of the most fabled programs and energized scenes in college football – USC, Ohio State and Penn State, respectfully. Ahmed grew up in Big Ten country and has a deep passion for the sport and its fans. As the host of the NFL’s show of record and a two-sport collegiate athlete, Maria is the perfect choice to lead this new Saturday night tradition. We can’t wait to kick things off on September 2 from Happy Valley.”

The show will be produced by Lindsay Schanzer and directed by Kaare Numme and Jared Sumner. Schanzer has won six Sports Emmy awards and is NBC Sports’ senior producer for horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby. She has also worked on Sunday Night Football,Football Night in America and Notre Dame Football. Numme has won 14 Sports Emmy awards and directs Football Night in America and the Kentucky Derby, among other major properties. He previously worked on Sunday Night Football and Notre Dame Football. Sumner currently works on Peacock’s MLB Sunday Leadoff and Golf Channel’s studio coverage. He has also worked on NBC Sports’ coverage of the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR, and Football Night in America.

In February, NBC Sports announced its lead B1G Ten Saturday Night college football announce team, featuring Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Noah Eagle (play-by-play) in the booth and Kathryn Tappen as sideline reporter.

In August 2022, NBCUniversal and the Big Ten Conference announced a landmark 7-year agreement for NBC and Peacock to become the exclusive home of B1G Ten Saturday Night football. Peacock will also serve as the exclusive home for eight additional Big Ten Football games each season. B1G Ten Saturday Night will mark the first time ever that Big Ten Football will have a dedicated weekly primetime game on a national broadcast network.

The premier of B1G Ten Saturday Night features Penn State hosting West Virginia from Beaver Stadium in University Park, Penn., on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

NBC Sports’ Big Ten Football and primetime games announced to date: