ESPN‘s Marty & McGee is shifting timeslots for the upcoming college football season. Barrett Media has learned that ESPN Radio is moving the show from 7-10 a.m. ET to a noon start on ESPN Radio and SEC Network for the upcoming football season.
What We Know: Beginning this season, SEC Nation will extend to a three-hour program, kicking off SEC Network coverage at 9 a.m. ET each Saturday throughout the fall. Additionally, Marty Smith and Ryan McGee will take on a larger SEC Nation role during the 9 a.m. – noon window. Following SEC Nation from noon-12:45 p.m., the Marty & McGee radio program will air as a lead in to the SEC Network’s college football game telecasts with 1 p.m. kickoffs. Previously, the radio program shifted to a 9am-10am timeslot for the football season as a lead in to SEC Nation. The program will shift back to the 7am timeslot in the football offseason.
Marty Smith joined ESPN in 2006, and Marty & McGee earned a regular ESPN Radio slot in 2015. Ryan McGee has co-hosted alongside him since then, and the pair added an SEC Network TV simulcast in 2018. In addition, McGee also contributes to high-profile studio programming, including SportsCenter, SEC Nation, SEC Now, College Football Live, College GameDay. Smith just recently signed a new multi-year extension with ESPN. He also continues to work on a variety of properties, including college football, golf, the NFL Draft, and much more.
What They Said: ESPN’s Marty Smith is excited for the shift to noon on Saturday’s (via Barrett Media): “Marty and McGee is moving to noon on Saturdays. That’s a shift from what we’ve been the last few years. Awesome. Our bosses believe [that we’re] going to flourish here. Okay, badass man. Strike the field. Let’s go.”
ESPN’s Ryan McGee (via Barrett Media): “I think I’m third only behind Tim [Tebow] and Paul [Finebaum] when it comes to tenure on SEC Nation. So, I’m really excited to be more involved in the show this year, getting back to my SEC Network roots. I can’t wait to use that noon hour to get out all over campuses. Nothing beats the energy of tailgaters pregaming while watching the early games. I’m gonna mooch so much smoked meat. And on live television!”
ESPN’s Marty Smith on shifting to Noon on Saturday’s on ESPN Radio (via Barrett Media): “I want to grow where I’m planted. Our bosses have given us these opportunities. And whatever that is, I want to try to dominate that box. Whatever that box is, I want to maximize it. I want to make it grow and bloom and flourish with resonance that far surpasses what I had maybe hoped for.”
What Remains Unclear: ESPN has not specified what will replace Marty & McGee on Saturdays from 7am-10am est for the football season.
What It Means: The move signals real confidence in Marty & McGee’s pull beyond early mornings. Moreover, with the challenge now being the show will be going head to head against early college football games, it will be interesting to see how the show grows in the new timeslot. Ultimately, Smith’s response frames it as growth and a test of the show’s ability to draw attention. Still, listeners now trade a sunrise habit for a midday one — a genuine test of loyalty.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.