With Week 1 of the college football season quickly approaching, the SEC Network has announced a new Monday program that will recap the weekend around the Southeastern Conference. Read & React pairs Cole Cubelic and Roman Harper together to discuss the latest news around the conference, keeping viewers informed, entertained and ready for the upcoming week of action.
Cubelic, who has been with ESPN since 2011, recently inked a new contract with the company and will remain situated as its field analyst for SEC Saturday Night. In this role, he will continue to work with Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers on the lead commentary team. Harper has been on the SEC Network since 2020 and now expands his studio responsibilities, maintaining his roles on SEC Nation and SEC Now. The new program will make its debut on Monday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST.
The studio lineup will also add analyst Takeo Spikes as co-host of Out of Pocket alongside Alyssa Lang, who signed a new, multi-year deal with the SEC Network ahead of the season. Spikes is a 15-year NFL veteran and former linebacker who joined the SEC Network last year after watching the network from afar. He will bring his energy and enthusiasm to the program that will air on Wednesdays keeping viewers prepared for the forthcoming week.
“We’re thrilled to add Cole, Roman and Takeo to our revamped studio slate this fall,” Pete Watters, ESPN coordinating producer and SEC Network studio production lead, said in a statement. “Cole and Roman paired together creates instant fireworks. They’re both competitive, love debate and when you add that Auburn-Alabama rivalry to any conversation, it’s entertaining and exciting.”
Spikes and Lang are familiar with one another having worked on the SEC Network and are set to work together on the revamped program, which returns on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST. Lang will also continue to host SEC Now with Dari Nowkah and Peter Burns featuring a rotating analyst lineup that includes Matt Stinchcomb. It was announced that both Lang and Stinchcomb have re-signed with the SEC Network.
“Adding Takeo to Out of Pocket alongside Alyssa provides the former player perspective to a show that is known for humanizing the athletes and coaches who fans see every Saturday,” Watters said. “We’re excited for SEC Network viewers to experience a different side of Takeo, and for his and Alyssa’s friendship to play off each other on air.”
SEC Network also announced that several shows will hit the road again, including SEC Nation and Marty & McGee. The Saturday evening show SEC Football Final will recap the storylines and highlights of the weekend and continues to include Nowkhah with analysts Chris Doering and Benjamin Watson. Both analysts signed multi-year renewals with the network ahead of the show’s return on Saturday, Sept. 2.
The rest of the lineup remains largely intact, highlighted by the four-hour daily program, The Paul Finebaum Show, which is simulcast on ESPN Radio. The “Voice of the SEC” will continue bringing consumers his unabashed opinions on the conference and distinguished interactions with callers. SEC Network is one year away from celebrating its 10th anniversary on the air, coinciding with ESPN securing the exclusive media rights for the conference as part of a 10-year deal worth a reported $3 billion.
