ESPN is bringing back its signature MegaCast presentation of games within the semifinal round of the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The company will present various offerings during both matchups in the round, the first of which takes place on Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Capital One Orange Bowl. No. 7 Notre Dame will face No. 6 Penn State from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. with a spot in the National Championship Game on the line. Commentators for the main telecast airing on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. EST will feature play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough, analyst Greg McElroy and reporters Molly McGrath and Katie George. The last semifinal iteration of the Capital One Orange Bowl in 2021, which took place in December 2021, averaged 17.2 million viewers on ESPN.
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic will take place from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas as No. 8 Ohio State faces No. 5 Texas, the winner of which will compete against the previous day’s victor in the National Championship Game. Taking part in the main telecast on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. EST is play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler, analyst Kirk Herbstreit and reporters Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge. The last semifinal edition of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in 2021 averaged 16.6 million viewers on ESPN.
The primary telecasts for both games will utilize over 50 cameras in the stadiums situated to provide distinct vantage points for the audience. Cameras will be situated on the goal posts, goal lines and inside all eight end zone pylons. Additionally, three referees will have wearable MindFly BodyCams and wireless handheld cameras will be utilized for on-field celebration after scoring plays.
Viewers can also see up to four different perspectives at any time on the Command Center presentation on ESPNU or watch the game above the gridiron on ESPNEWS with the SkyCast. Consumers can utilize the ESPN App to view the aforementioned presentations, along with the All-22 accompanied by the ESPN Radio call of the games. Halftime marching band performances will also air on the ESPN App with the All-22 view.
Airing on ESPN2 during both games will be Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show, an alternate broadcast returning for its third consecutive season. The sports talk show cast will be on hand for the games, including Pat McAfee, A.J. Hawk, Darius Butler, Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit and Anthony DiGuilio. During the quarterfinal broadcast of the Rose Bowl Game, the presentation averaged 2.4 million viewers, the most-viewed alternate broadcast in ESPN history. McAfee’s program will air live from Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday ahead of the Capital One Orange Bowl.
A variety of radio commentary teams will be on the air for both games from national and local networks. Both games will air on ESPN Radio and include a roster of experienced commentators providing insights and analysis surrounding the action. The Capital One Orange Bowl will feature Dave Pasch, Roddy Jones, Kris Budden and Taylor McGregor on the broadcast. For the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the commentary team will consist of Marc Kestecher, Kelly Stouffer, Ian Fitzsimmons and Quint Kessenich. Spanish language calls of the action will be available through ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App for both matchups as well.
Fans will also be able to tune in for Hometown Radio broadcasts of the action with local commentary teams from all four competing schools synced to the Command Center presentation. Using the ESPN App during the Capital One Orange Bowl, consumers can listen to the Notre Dame Football Radio Network with Tony Simeone and Ryan Harris or the Penn State Sports Network with Steve Jones, Jack Ham and Brian Tripp.
The Ohio State Sports Network Powered by LEARFIELD will air on the ESPN App for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic with Paul Keels, Jim Lachey, Matt Andrews and Skip Mosic. The SEC Network will air the Longhorn Radio Network Powered by LEARFIELD with Craig Way, Roger Wallace and Will Matthews.
Special editions of College GameDay will air from both semifinal locations at 6 p.m. EST ahead of game action featuring the cast of Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban with contributions from Pete Thamel and ‘Stanford Steve’ Coughlin. Furthermore, the SEC Network will air studio programming from Texas as the Longhorns compete for the National Championship, including two on-site editions of The Paul Finebaum Show. Rutledge will host SEC Nation on Friday at 6 p.m. EST ahead of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, and SEC Football Final will conclude the day’s on-site programming.
ESPN will also present various digital offerings on its platforms, such as Countdown to the CFP Semifinals with Christine Williamson, Harry Douglas and Harry Lyles Jr. live from Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. EST. Matt Simms, Sam Ravech and Skubie Mageza star on the postgame digital show, The Wrap-Up, concluding each round from the ESPN studios on Jan. 10. Moreover, Gary Striewski and Randy Scott will co-host the final episode of this season’s edition of The Kickoff on Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. EST.
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