For many college football fans, the voices calling the action are just as important as the games themselves.
Hearing a familiar voice call a game-changing touchdown — or sitting through a blowout with an overly chatty booth — shapes how we experience our Saturdays in the fall.
When a massive upset happens, you want a broadcaster who sounds as stunned as you are, not someone reading stats like they’re reciting a grocery list.
You want Gus Johnson screaming from the top of his lungs — perhaps even losing his voice — after a big play. Or Joe Tessitore and his booming “Are you kidding me?!” during a chaotic late-night finish.
When your team is locked in an instant classic, those voices turn a great game into an unforgettable memory.
It’s Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit amplifying a high-stakes primetime showdown. Or the smooth cadence of Brad Nessler describing a massive conference rivalry.
Conversely, if your team is down big, the last thing you want is a commentator cracking corny jokes while you wallow in misery.
Love them or loathe them, broadcasters become part of every college football Saturday. The best elevate unforgettable moments. The worst make three-plus hours feel even longer.
Some make you turn the volume all the way up, knowing the call might become just as memorable as the play itself. Others make you reach for the remote’s mute button.
With another college football season almost here, let’s take a look at the broadcast teams that will guide us through every upset and rivalry that make fall Saturdays so memorable:
ABC/ESPN/ACC Network/SEC Network
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe
Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Katie George
Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer and Kris Budden
Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Taylor McGregor
Tom Hart, Roddy Jones and Quint Kessenich
Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick and Stormy Buonantony
Roy Philpott, Brock Osweiler and Sherree Burruss
Matt Barrie, Chase Daniel and Paul Carcaterra
Mike Monaco, Jordan Rodgers and Dana Boyle
Wes Durham, Max Browne and Madison Fitzpatrick
Matt Schumacker, Aaron Murray and Taylor Davis
Dave Neal, Cole Cubelic and Tori Petry
Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Michella Chester
CBS
Brad Nessler, Charles Davis and Jenny Dell
CW Network
Thom Brennaman, Jason Cabinda and Wes Bryant
Jack McMullen, Cody Kessler as Marshall Newhouse
Rick Allen, Will Blackmon and Michael Bumpus
Chris Fisher, Isaiah Stanback and Bryan Walters
Fox Sports/Big Ten Network
Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft
Connor Onion, Robert Griffin III and Alexa Landestoy
Big Ten Network play-by-play announcers:
Jeff Levering, Mark Followill, Jason Horowitz, Chris Vosters, Lisa Byington, Wayne Randazzo, A.J. Kanell and Joe Beninati
Big Ten game analysts:
Ryan Kerrigan, Kenjon Barner, Brett Hundley, Jake Butt, Rhett Lewis, Anthony Herron, Matt Millen, Brock Vereen, Marcel Reece, Tanner Morgan and Jared Thomas
Big Ten sideline reporters:
Brooke Fletcher, Caroline Hendershot and Dannie Rogers
NBC Sports
Dan Hicks, Jason Garrett and Zora Stephenson (Notre Dame home games)
Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge and Kathryn Tappen (Big Ten Saturday night)
Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.