Behind The Mic: NFL and College Football Reveals Announcing Line Up For 2024-2025 Seasons (2024)

Sportsnet Announces Jon Abbott as New Play-by-Play Voice of the Calgary Flames

Sportsnet announces that Jon Abbott has been named as the new play-by-play voice of the Calgary Flames on Sportsnet. Abbott joins game analysts Kelly Hrudey and Greg Millen in the Sportsnet broadcast booth, with host Ryan Leslie delivering the latest updates around the rink.

“The hockey world is a small one and often provides full circle moments. Growing up in Aylmer, ON, my minor hockey team was named the Flames because of funding provided by a former owner of the Calgary Flames, the late Harley Hotchkiss. Mr. Hotchkiss was from the neighbouring community of Tillsonburg, and just as the Flames ownership continues to do today, he always supported his community through his love for the game. It is an honour to join both the Sportsnet and Flames families over 30 years later, and I look forward to many years of great hockey memories in Calgary.”

Having started his career at Rogers TV, Abbott brings an impressive resume spanning more than 24 years in sports broadcasting, covering some of hockey’s biggest moments in the NHL, CHL, AHL, World Junior Hockey Championships, World Men’s Hockey Championships, and Olympics. He now joins the Calgary Flames on Sportsnet regional broadcast team after NHL stints in Toronto, Vancouver, and most recently Ottawa.

“Jon Abbott is a fantastic addition to the Flames on Sportsnet broadcast booth, especially as we begin our new 11-year regional broadcast partnership with Calgary,” says Rob Corte, VP of Sportsnet and NHL Production. “His passion for hockey and this industry is infectious. Sportsnet is proud and excited to have Jon, Kelly, Greg, and Ryan bring all the great action of a new season to Flames fans.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Jon and his family to Calgary,” says Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation President and CEO Robert Hayes. “Participating in the search for a play-by-play person with our partner Sportsnet, we were very impressed with Jon’s broadcast, his resume, and his reputation within the industry. Not only will Jon be an excellent addition to the broadcast team, but he will also be an embraced member in the Calgary community. Along with Flames fans, we look forward to the energy and passion he will deliver in his play-by-play call this winter and for many seasons to come.”

FOX Sports Assembles Star-Studded Broadcast Team for 2024 College Football Coverage

Today, FOX Sports unveils its all-star college football on-air lineup, featuring some of the most prominent voices in the sport for both studio and game coverage. Each Saturday, FOX Sports kicks off the action live from campuses nationwide with BIG NOON KICKOFF at 10:00 AM ET on FOX, followed by BIG NOON SATURDAY at 12:00 PM ET on FOX – college football’s most-watched window on any network for three consecutive seasons.

New this year is FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL FRIDAY, which will feature highly anticipated matchups across the Big Ten, Big 12 and Mountain West conferences.

BIG NOON KICKOFF

This season, BIG NOON KICKOFF returns with a powerhouse lineup featuring college football legends Mark Ingram II, Matt Leinart, Urban Meyer, and Brady Quinn, alongside host Rob Stone. The show will hit the road every Saturday, beginning Saturday, Aug 31 with BIG NOON KICKOFF’s first ever trip to Morgantown, WV, at 10:00 AM ET on FOX.

Sports wagering expert Chris “The Bear” Fallica continues to bring his extensive experience to the show. Reporter Tom Rinaldi provides in-depth interviews and special features, while insider Bruce Feldman reports on the latest news in college football.

2024 GAME DAY VOICES

Game action kicks off each Saturday at 12:00 PM ET with the BIG NOON SATURDAY game of the week. Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft reunite for their eighth consecutive season, opening with the year’s first BIG NOON SATURDAY matchup featuring Penn State at West Virginia at 12:00 PM ET on Saturday, Aug 31 on FOX.

Play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti, former NFL quarterback and analyst Brock Huard, and sideline reporter Allison Williams reunite for their third season together, starting Thursday, Aug 29 in Minneapolis with North Carolina taking on Minnesota in Week 1. Their coverage continues with a showdown between UTEP and Nebraska in Lincoln, NE, on Saturday, Aug 31 at 3:30 PM ET on FOX.

Veteran play-by-play announcer Tim Brando and former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner are joined by reporter Josh Sims, kicking off Week 0 with Montana State at New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, at 4:00 PM ET on Saturday, Aug. 24 on FS1. The trio then heads to Madison, WI, for Western Michigan at Wisconsin,Friday, Aug. 30, at 9:00 PM ET on FS1.

TNT Sports Announces CommentatorLineup– Including Host Adam Lefkoe & Studio Analysts Champ Bailey, Takeo Spikes & Victor Cruz–Ahead of Inaugural Season of Mountain West Football Coverage

TNT Sports has announced its commentator lineup ahead of its opening week of Mountain West footballcoverage. Week 1 on truTV and Max will kick off with the San José State Spartans – led by new head coach Ken Niumatalolo– hosting the Sacramento State Hornetson Thursday, Aug. 29, at 10 p.m. ET. Ari Wolfe (play-by-play), Darius Walker (analyst) and Jared Greenberg (reporter) will call the action from San José.

Opening week coverage will continue two nights later as the San Diego State Aztecs and new head coach Sean Lewis host the Texas A&M Commerce Lions on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 8 p.m.TNT Sports’ Wolfe, Walker and Greenberg will be in San Diego to call the game.

Walker, a former Notre Dame and Houston Texans running back, has worked as an analyst for ESPN and Fox Sports. Wolfe is an award-winning broadcaster with experience calling Mountain West football since 2009, and currently works at the Tennis Channel. He’s also previously served as a studio host and play-by-play talent for NFL Network along with twice being a member of NBC Sports’ Olympics talent team. Greenberg has served as a sideline reporter for TNT Sports primarily covering the NBA since 2012.

Studio coverage throughout the season for TNT Sports will be hosted by Adam Lefkoe with a talented and accomplished roster of analysts:

Champ Bailey– Pro Football Hall of Famer in 2019, following an NFL career as a perennial Pro Bowl cornerback for Washington and Denver. Dual threat at Georgia on offense, defense and special teams, earning All-America, All-SEC and Bronko Nagurski honors over three seasons in Athens.
Takeo Spikes– A Two-Time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker, 15-Year NFL veteran and SEC legend at Auburn. He previously served as an analyst with the SEC Network, along with NBC Sports, SiriusXM and Sky Sports.
Victor Cruz– Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants after making the roster as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Following his retirement from the NFL in 2018, joined ESPN as an NFL analyst. Named an all-conference wide receiver his final two seasons at the University of Massachusetts.

Mountain West football on truTV and Max will include 30-minute pregame and postgame shows with news and analysis from around the conference and throughout college football.

Starting in Week 2, and throughout the season on doubleheader nights, J.B. Long and Mike Golic, Jr.will also serve as play-by-play voice and game analyst, respectively, for TNT Sports. Long has served as the play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Rams since 2016, and also called football and other sports for the Pac-12 Network from 2012-24.Golic was an Academic All-American at Notre Dame before joining ESPN as a host and color football analyst. Golic is now a co-host of the GoJo and Golic daily morning podcast on the DraftKings Network.

Additional reporters in 2024 will include Lauren Jbara, Nabil Karim and Bridget Howard.

This season marks the return of college football to TNT Sports, which last televised games in 2006.TNT Sports will also presenttwo first-round College Football Playoff games during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In addition to the first-round games, TNT Sports will add two quarterfinal games each year beginning with the 2026 season through the 2028 season.

Kelsey Riggs Moves to New Full-Time SportsCenter Anchor Role

ESPN host, anchor and reporter Kelsey Riggs will transition to a new full-time role on SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship news and information program. Known for her insightful reporting and engaging on-air presence, Riggs will deliver sports news, highlights and interviews to millions of fans nationwide. She is expected to make her full-time debut on Thursday, August 29.

Since joining ESPN in 2019 for the launch of ACC Network, the 24/7 national network dedicated to Atlantic Coast Conference sports, Riggs has been a signature face of the network. As one of ACCN’s founding hires, she served as host of ACC Huddle, Nothing But Net, and other studio shows. Riggs also contributed to event coverage on ACC Network and across ESPN platforms, in addition to anchoring SportsCenter and College Football Live and contributing to NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament coverage. Last month, it was announced that Taylor Tannebaum will fill Riggs’ ACC Network role.

“Kelsey’s passion for sports and her ability to connect with fans make her a perfect fit for SportsCenter,” says Maria Soares, a Senior Vice President of Production and Content Strategy at ESPN. “Already experienced as a part-time SportsCenter anchor, we’re thrilled to have Kelsey part of the show now on a full-time basis.”

In her new role, Riggs will contribute to SportsCenter’s comprehensive coverage of sports, providing live updates, breaking news, and perspective across various editions. Her move to SportsCenter underscores ESPN’s commitment to enhancing its roster of talented hosts, ensuring that viewers receive the most informative and entertaining sports coverage.

“When I started at ACCN & ESPN, I never dreamed I’d host SportsCenter. Joining the team full-time is an incredible honor,” says Riggs. I’m deeply grateful for my time with ACCN and for all the people who helped me reach this iconic show.”

Prior to joining ESPN and the ACC Network, Riggs spent three years as a sports anchor and reporter at WCNC, the NBC affiliate in Charlotte, N.C., where she covered a multitude of events, including Super Bowl 50 and Super Bowl LIII, and the 2017 Men’s Final Four. A former college soccer player at Charleston Southern, Riggs was also a key reporter of Carolina Panthers news during her time in the Queen City.

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown Set for Show’s 40th Season

ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown will embark on its 40th season on Sunday, Sept. 8, beginning a more than five-month campaign that concludes on Super Bowl Sunday in New Orleans (February 9). The now three-hour pregame show debuted during the 1985 NFL season, originally named NFL GameDay, and has provided fans pregame news, analysis, and strategic breakdowns for each of the previous 39 seasons.

Host Mike Greenberg will join the returning analysts – Super Bowl Champions Tedy Bruschi and Rex Ryan, Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss, three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Alex Smith. ESPN’s senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter will provide all the latest news and information, while Jeff Darlington, Dan Graziano, Kimberley A. Martin, Sal Paolantonio, and Lindsey Thiry will be the regular reporters at the week’s biggest games. Storytelling will remain prominent, with compelling features among the weekly highlights. Sports Betting analyst Erin Dolan also returns.

The show will continue to air 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET and originate from ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn.

With the show’s season debut, Greenberg becomes the fourth host of the program and further builds his existing NFL portfolio, which includes ESPN’s NFL Draft. He has hosted the network’s Thursday and Friday night coverage since 2021.

ESPN’s Comprehensive College Football Coverage Kicks Off with Dynamic Commentator Lineup; Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe Return as ABC/ESPN’s Top Team

ESPN’s industry-leading coverage of college football will once again feature the deepest roster of on-air personalities in the sport for the 2024-25 season – a blend of veteran voices, familiar faces and talented newcomers.

More than two dozen teams of veteran play-by-play commentators, informative analysts and versatile reporters will cover the season from August’s Week 0 kickoff through the College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta in January 2025.

Chris Fowler,Kirk Herbstreitand reporterHolly Rowewill team up again to call marquee matchups on ABC. The 2024 season marks Fowler and Herbstreit’s 11th year in theSNFbooth and their 29th season as college football teammates, beginning in 1996 onCollege GameDay. Fowler, a 2024 Sports Emmy nominee, and Herbstreit, the five-time Sports Emmy winner, have called all 10 College Football Playoff National Championship games together. Rowe, a 2023 Sports Emmy winner, joined the team in 2021 and is in her 29th college football season for ESPN and ABC.

Another top ABC/ESPN team features Sean McDonough, Greg McElroyand Molly McGrath pairing up for the second season. The Alabama National Champion quarterback enters his ninth 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 Footballpodcast. McDonough, one of the most accomplished broadcasters of his generation, returns to his regular ABC/ESPN rotationfor the sixth straight year in addition to serving as ESPN’s lead NHL play-by-play voice. McGrath, fresh off her third consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship network assignment and second straight Sports Emmy nomination, is in her fifth season in this role and eighth consecutive year at ESPN. She has recently signed a contract extension with ESPN.

The trio of veteran play-by-play voiceJoe Tessitore, longtime ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer and sideline reporterKatie George will work together on ESPN/ABC games for the second straight season. Palmer, a leading ESPN/ABC studio analyst for years, recently signed a contract extension and enters his 17th season at ESPN, previously working in both game and studio analyst roles across ESPN platforms. He’s also a consistent face on ABC as host of the popular Bachelor series. 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, the co-host ofHoley Moleyon ABC, and was just announced as a commentator for WWE. 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 sixth year on the sidelines across ESPN platforms.

The teams of Fowler/Herbstreit/Rowe, McDonough/McElroy/McGrath, and Tessitore/Palmer/George will rotate commentary duties for the new SEC on ABC franchise at 3:30 p.m., which debuts Saturday, Aug. 31 with a brand new graphics and animation package.

Additional teams for ESPN/ABC Saturday games:

Mark Jones, Roddy Jones and Quint Kessenich team up for the first time. Mark Jones has served as a college football commentator and leading NBA play-by-play voice for more than three decades. Roddy Jones has been with ESPN since 2017, first as a sideline reporter and then as an analyst on both ACC Network and ESPN. Veteran reporterKessenich is one of ESPN’s top lacrosse voices and a reporter on multiple NCAA Championship events.

Bob WischusenandKris Budden will be joined by Louis Riddick on ABC and ESPN. Wischusen, a college football, basketball, golf and NHL voice for ESPN, is also the New York Jets radio voice. Riddick, who is synonymous with ESPN’s NFL game, studio and NFL Draft coverage, readies for his fourth college football campaign and will continue to call selectMonday Night FootballBudden is a regular on ABC and ESPN covering college football, basketball, and is the lead sideline reporter for the Men’s College World Series. Budden has also called multiple College Football Playoff National Championships on ESPN Radio and is a regular voice for college sports studio programming on Sirius XM.

Dave Pasch andDusty Dvoracekwill call games together for the fourth consecutive season. A versatile football and basketball play-by-play voice – who also calls Arizona Cardinals NFL games, Pasch recently celebrated his 20th year at ESPN. A two-time Oklahoma Sooner captain and former NFL Draft pick, Dvoracek also contributes to College Football Live, SportsCenter and various SEC Network programming with Oklahoma joining the SEC. Sideline reporter Taylor McGregor joins the duo for the first time this season. McGregor, part of ESPN’s college football team since 2019, is also a commentator and host for Chicago Cubs broadcasts.

Tiffany Greene and Jay Walker team up each week in the booth on ESPN’s HBCU spotlights, along with the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off and the Cricket Celebration Bowl on ABC. The duo has been paired up since 2018, when Greene became the first Black woman to serve as a play-by-play commentator in college football. Walker is a 2018 MEAC Hall of Fame inductee and was voted into the Howard University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.

Lead College Networks Commentating Crews:

SEC Network returns itsSEC Saturday Night trio ofTom Hart,Jordan RodgersandCole Cubelicfor the eighth consecutive season.
ACC Network Primetimefeatures a new look in 2024, as veteran ESPN field analyst Tom Luginbill moves to the booth for his 20th season at ESPN, joined by ESPN college football newcomer Dana Boyle – a regular on ESPN’s collegiate and professional lacrosse coverage, and longtime play-by-play voiceWes Durham.

Additional Game Crews on ESPN Platforms:

Returning Teams:

Matt Barrie, Dan Mullen and Harry Lyles
Anish Shroff, Andre Ware and Paul Carcaterra
Brian Custer, Rod Gilmore and Lauren Sisler
Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang
Eric Frede and Jack Ford

New Teams:

Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler and Stormy Buonantony
Roy Philpott, Sam Acho and Taylor Davis
Mike Monaco, Kirk Morrison and Dawn Davenport
Dave Neal, Aaron Murray and Ashley ShahAhmadi
Jorge Sedano, Orlando Franklin and Morgan Uber
Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich and Coley Harvey
Jay Alter and Rocky Boiman
Lowell Galindo and Fozzy Whittaker
Mike Corey/Courtney Lyle* and Rene Ingoglia
Matt Schumacker and Dustin Fox
Noah Reed and Craig Haubert
Clay Matvick and Steve Addazio

* Lyle returns from maternity leave in late September

Additional ESPN college football commentators returning this fall include rules analysts Bill LeMonnier (Saturday Night Football) and Matt Austin (all ESPN platforms, including SEC games), as well as play-by-play commentators James Westling, Jason Ross, Jr., Drew Carter, Roxy Bernstein, Richard Cross, Shawn Kenney, Beth Mowins, Doug Sherman and Ted Emrich, analysts Charlie Strong, Barrett Brooks, Charles Arbuckle, Tyoka Jackson, Forrest Conoly, and reporters Sherree Burruss, Marilyn Payne, Tori Petry and Ashley Stroehlein, among others.

ESPN Re-Signs College Football Commentators to New Contracts
ESPN strengthened its college football roster by signing multiple on-air personalities to new or extended contracts during the offseason. In addition to the aforementioned extensions, ESPN re-signed the following game talent to new contracts (in alphabetical order): Steve Addazio, Dana Boyle, Stormy Buonantony, Je’Rod Cherry, Richard Cross, Taylor Davis, Ted Emrich, Dave Flemming, Dustin Fox, Orlando Franklin, Lowell Galindo, Tom Hart, Tyoka Jackson, Chuckie Kempf, Taylor McGregor, Dan Mullen, Aaron Murray, Brock Osweiler, Noah Reed, Michael Reghi, Jason Ross Jr, Matt Schumacker, Ashley ShahAhmadi, Doug Sherman, Matt Simms, Lauren Sisler, Morgan Uber, James Westling, Fozzy Whittaker and Taylor Zarzour.

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 veteransKelly Stouffer(analyst), the former NFL and Colorado State quarterback, and ESPN veteranIan Fitzsimmons(reporter). Longtime ESPN play-by-play commentatorMike Couzens– ESPN Radio’s top college basketball voice – will continue to call games with Florida alum and two-time Super Bowl champion Max Starks.

The most-anticipated season of college football is set for ESPN platforms with an unequaled portfolio of marquee rivalries, non-conference showcases, conference championship contests and comprehensive postseason coverage. For updates to programming schedules and game assignments, please visitESPNPressRoom.com.