As the ACC Football Kickoff event got underway Tuesday in Charlotte, ACC Network rolled out a wave of programming announcements for the 2025 season, headlined by the addition of national championship-winning coach Jimbo Fisher to its studio analyst team.
Fisher, who led Florida State to a national title in 2013 and won three straight ACC Championships from 2012 to 2014, will now bring his coaching acumen to television. He joins the ACC Huddle cast alongside host Taylor Tannebaum, former Clemson standout Eric Mac Lain, and Virginia Tech legend Eddie Royal. Former FSU quarterback EJ Manuel will shift to a new ESPN studio role this fall but will continue contributing across ACCN platforms.
“Jimbo’s insight and championship perspective will add a powerful dynamic to ACC Huddle,” an ESPN executive said in a statement. “We’re excited to welcome him to the team.”
The move marks Fisher’s first foray into studio work since stepping away from the sidelines. Fisher, 59, was most recently the head coach at Texas A&M. He served the position from 2018 until 2023.
“I’m looking forward to joining ACC Network and the Huddle team this season,” Fisher said in a statement. “I’ve always had tremendous respect for this conference, and I’m looking forward to breaking down the action each week with such a talented group.”
In addition to Fisher’s hire, ACCN confirmed that ACC Huddle will go on the road each week this fall, broadcasting live from the site of the ACC’s top game. The show, which airs Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET, will now be a visible on-campus presence at the conference’s biggest matchups and will be open for public viewing at each stop.
The first three ACC Huddle locations were also unveiled including week one as Clemson hosts LSU on August 30. Week two will see the program travel for Duke hosting Illinois, with week three focused on Georgia Tech hosting Clemson in Atlanta.
Studio coverage from ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn. will continue with Kelsey Riggs Cuff, Mark Richt, and Tom Luginbill anchoring halftime reports, game wraps, and a new edition of ACC Network Final Score, recapping the day’s action with highlights, interviews and analysis.
Additionally, ACCN will launch a new twice-weekly football studio show later this summer. Hosted by EJ Manuel and former Georgia Tech captain Roddy Jones, the ACC Network Football Podcast will air at 5 p.m. ET and will feature deep dives into teams, players and top storylines. The show will also be available on the ESPN App and podcast platforms.
Further details on ACC Network’s complete fall studio lineup are expected in the coming weeks from ESPN.
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