ESPN unveiled its college football commentary lineup for 2026-27 this week. The slate runs from Week 0 through the CFP National Championship in Las Vegas.
What We Know: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe return as the lead ABC/ESPN team for a 13th season together. Steve Shaw joins as a rules analyst after a long career in officiating, including NCAA and SEC roles. Both ACC Network and SEC Network debut new primetime trios this fall. Three new sideline reporters — Michella Chester, Madison Fitzpatrick and Madison Hock — also join the network.
Who To Watch: (via ESPN PR)
| Broadcast Team | Play-by-Play | Analyst | Sideline Reporter(s) | Rules Analyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team 1 | Chris Fowler | Kirk Herbstreit | Holly Rowe | Steve Shaw |
| Team 2 | Sean McDonough | Greg McElroy | Katie George | — |
| Team 3 | Joe Tessitore | Jesse Palmer | Kris Budden | — |
| Team 4 | Dave Pasch | Dusty Dvoracek | Taylor McGregor | — |
| Team 5 | Tom Hart | Roddy Jones | Quint Kessenich | — |
| Team 6 | Bob Wischusen | Louis Riddick | Stormy Buonantony | — |
| Team 7 | Roy Philpott | Brock Osweiler | Sherree Burruss | — |
| Team 8 | Mike Monaco | Jordan Rodgers | Dana Boyle | — |
| Team 9 | Wes Durham | Max Browne | Madison Fitzpatrick | — |
| Team 10 | Matt Schumacker | Aaron Murray | Taylor Davis | — |
| Team 11 | Tiffany Greene | Jay Walker | — | — |
| Team 12 | Matt Barrie | Chase Daniel | Paul Carcaterra | — |
| Team 13 | Courtney Lyle | Rene Ingolia | — | — |
| Team 14 | Jason Ross Jr. | Tyoka Jackson | — | — |
| Team 15 | Eric Frede | Jack Ford | — | — |
| Team 16 | Jay Alter | Tom Luginbill | Lauren Sisler | — |
| Team 17 | Lowell Galindo | Kirk Morrison | Dawn Davenport | — |
| Team 18 | Anish Shroff | Andre Ware | Morgan Uber | — |
| Team 19 | Taylor Zarzour | Matt Stinchcomb | Michella Chester | — |
| Team 20 | Dave Neal | Cole Cubelic | Tori Petry | — |
| Team 21 | Jorge Sedano | Rodney McLeod | Kendra Douglas | — |
| Team 22 | Roxy Bernstein | Dave Clawson | Madison Hock | — |
| Team 23 | Clay Matvick | Rocky Boiman | — | — |
| Team 24 | Chuckie Kempf | Dustin Fox | — | — |
| Team 25 | Ted Emrich | Fozzy Whittaker | — | — |
What Remains Unclear: ESPN hasn’t detailed specific game assignments for each crew yet.
What It Means: This roster signals continued investment in college football as a ratings driver for ESPN. Consequently, ESPN is blending proven chemistry with fresh talent across its networks. The expanded CFP format ahead likely factored into these depth-focused staffing decisions. Ultimately, viewers can expect familiar voices alongside new faces throughout the season.
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