ESPN is putting its airstream back on the road this fall. It is leaning into college football’s tradition-rich atmosphere with the return of its two-show ESPN Radio College Football Tailgate. The network announced Thursday that the weekend programming block will once again feature Amber Wilson and Jonathan Zaslow at the center of the action.
The weekend kicks off with Amber & Ian: On the Road every Friday night beginning Aug. 29. The show, airing 7–10 p.m. ET, will be broadcast live from the host city of that week’s featured matchup. Wilson and Zaslow will spotlight the weekend’s marquee college football storylines. Moreover, they’ll also mix in NFL talk and set the stage for two days of wall-to-wall action.
“College football is all about passion, tradition and community,” said Justin Craig, ESPN’s Vice President of Digital & Audio Production. “Amber and Jonathan are the perfect voices to capture the excitement on campus. This tour allows us to not only showcase the games, but also connect with the next generation of fans and broadcasters.”
On Saturdays, the duo will climb into ESPN’s airstream studio for a live three-hour College Football Tailgate broadcast beginning at 10 a.m. The show will originate from some of the sport’s most passionate tailgating scenes. It gives fans a front-row seat to the energy on campus. Listeners can expect interviews with coaches and players, appearances from ESPN’s on-site reporters, and a robust social media presence. This presence extends the experience to Instagram and X.
In addtion, for Wilson and Zaslow, the tailgate tour is about more than just game-day atmosphere. The pair will also spend time meeting with university students and organizations at each stop. They will share insights into the business of sports media and offer guidance for aspiring broadcasters. That added layer gives the project an educational component, something ESPN has increasingly emphasized as part of its audio strategy.
“A new season of College Football Tailgate means we’re bringing you the college towns, the campuses, the rivalries, and the tailgates,” said Zaslow. “Getting back in the airstream studio is what’s been missing from my life! There’s no one I’d rather Tailgate with every week than the great Amber Wilson and all of you!”
“I’m so excited to be back on the road for College Football Tailgate at the biggest college football matchups around the country,” said Wilson. “Zaslow and I have been doing radio together for almost a decade. There’s nothing we’ve done that rivals the fun we have bringing the listener with us to the most passionate fan bases in all of sports!”
By doubling down on live, on-site college football content, ESPN is positioning its radio brand as an authentic extension of the Saturday experience. For fans, the return of the College Football Tailgate means a chance to ride along with Wilson and Zaslow as they drop into the game-day heartbeat of campuses across the country.
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