Kirk Herbstreit said the same word three times with three different inflections over a three-minute span of Saturday’s Alabama–Georgia game, and it hit the mark in all three moments.
“Unbelievable. … UN-BEE-LIEVE-ABLE. … Unbelievable.”
As half of America assumed a surrender cobra pose and the other half stood with arms in the air, Herbstreit and longtime ABC/ESPN television partner Chris Fowler called the frantic final quarter of this year’s game of the century, as No. 4 Alabama held off No. 2 Georgia 41-34 when Crimson Tide cornerback Zabien Brown intercepted Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck in the end zone with 43 seconds left. That caused Herbstreit to mutter his final “unbelievable.”
The SEC clash capped a full day of massive collisions, controversies and surprises. For the most part, television crews were solid, although one in particular needs to evaluate multiple parts of its broadcast. Here’s a look at the top 10 broadcasts of the weekend, plus a few others that caught my eye.
1. Alabama 41, Georgia 34 (ABC prime time; Chris Fowler play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit analyst, Holly Rowe sideline, Laura Rutledge sideline)
In 2034, this game deserves a 90-minute classic rewind on SEC Network and all of the audio preserved. There’s a reason why this crew calls the biggest games: They meet the moment, which they did on Saturday. From quality updates and sideline interviews to solid pacing from Fowler, each delivered insight to the broadcast. But as usual, Herbstreit was the star.
When the Tide rolled to a 28-0 first-half lead, Herbstreit hammered how Alabama was attacking the perimeter. He repeated it, showed it, and it kept happening.
“Have I told you they’re attacking the edge?” Herbstreit said. A few plays later he added, “They’re getting to the edge any time they want.”
After Milroe tight-roped the sideline for a 36-yard “lightning strike” touchdown to go up 28-0, Fowler turned to Herbstreit and asked, “In a hundred years would you have expected to see anything like this?” Herbstreit said one word: “No.” Clearly shaken, Beck nearly threw his third interception of the first half on another possession and Herbstreit pointed out, “He telegraphs it. The eyes … almost another interception.” ABC’s cameras then followed Beck’s locked-on gaze toward a wide receiver on a throw that nearly became a pick six.
In alignment with the thoughts of most observers, Fowler and Herbstreit seemed to characterize Georgia’s second-half comeback as a likely unsuccessful fight for pride. Instead, after Beck connected with Dillon Bell for a 67-yard touchdown, Fowler shouts, “Can you believe it! Georgia has the lead!”
Herbstreit sized it up perfectly: “This is what makes this sport so amazing. Carson Beck with the play of maybe his entire career. … What he’s overcome, no matter how this thing finishes, you earn more respect for Carson Beck than anything tonight.”
That was Herbstreit’s first “unbelievable”. The second was on the next play, Milroe’s 75-yard touchdown to 17-year-old Ryan Williams. Herbstreit uttered the third on Brown’s interception.
It was at that point when Herbstreit asked a question of Fowler that served as a microcosm of the college football universe.
“Are you OK?” Herbstreit asked. “You’ve had some big calls lately.”
2. Michigan 27, Minnesota 24 (Fox early afternoon; Gus Johnson play-by-play, Joel Klatt analyst, Jenny Taft sideline)
Lost alongside Saturday’s biggest upset and ahead of its main event was its biggest controversy. Trailing by 3 with 1:37 left, Gophers kicker Dragan Kesich executed a perfect onside kick, which linebacker Matt Kingsbury recovered at the Michigan 39. That elevated Gus Johnson to what makes him special: “Nice bounce, scrambled around, Minnesota’s got it! The Gophers have it!”
A member of referee Mark Kluczynski’s officiating crew called Kingsbury offsides, which cost the Gophers the recovery. Klatt was diplomatic in his breakdown, saying, “Oh man, just barely.” Fox went to officiating czar Mike Pereira, who disagreed with the call: “I don’t know, it’s so technical to me, he’s not (offsides).”
Minnesota, down 3, recovers the onside kick but gets called for a flag 😳 pic.twitter.com/BoUkcdDL2a
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 28, 2024
But what elevated this broadcast wasn’t the crew; it was former Boise State and Washington coach Chris Petersen’s livid reaction in the studio.
“I’m sick to my stomach right now, I really am,” Petersen said. “I just hate to see this, when the officials are making something up. I don’t know why they would throw that flag. To me these are always close calls but … what are we doing? Let the kids play.
“We’d always say one play is never going to lose you the game. One play can win you the game. But when it comes down to an official’s call, you know how hard it is to execute an onside kick and get it? It’s like less than 10 percent. Then they got it, they did it perfectly, then it’s taken away. I don’t like that at all, man. That is so frustrating, that’s why I’m not coaching.”
3. Kentucky 20, Ole Miss 17 (ABC early afternoon; Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath sideline)
For the second time in three weeks, this crew saw Kentucky battle a top-10 team for four quarters. In this broadcast, the trio did an outstanding job of relaying why the Wildcats had a chance to win, what was working and the overall impact of an upset.
I enjoyed listening to McElroy discuss strategy, especially on why Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff took off on a zone read for a first down.
“It’s a good decision,” McElroy said. “I know it’s third-and-long, but you’ve got five guys in the box and six blockers.” The video backed him.
By the mid-second quarter, McElroy honed in on how the game was being played at Kentucky’s pace. In the final two minutes, when Ole Miss trailed by three points and faced fourth-and-11 from its 24-yard line, McDonough quipped without hyperbole, “Here comes the play of the game and the play of the season for Ole Miss.” Then Jaxson Dart launched a 42-yard pass to tight end Caden Prieskorn to give the Rebels new life.
McDonough’s description of Ole Miss kicker Caden Davis’ game-tying field-goal attempt was apt, calling it a “low duck hook.” In the postgame interview, McGrath did a good job of getting out of the way and letting Kentucky coach Mark Stoops relay his emotion.
4. Texas A&M 21, Arkansas 14 (ESPN mid-afternoon; Dave Pasch play-by-play, Dusty Dvoracek analyst, Taylor McGregor sideline)
McGregor, who was outstanding all year on Marquee Sports, produced some of the best sideline reports I’ve heard in years from this game. In what usually is a mundane interview between the first and second quarters, McGregor got Arkansas coach Sam Pittman to speak for nearly a minute in detail about the issues facing his team. Then late in the second quarter, McGregor reported that Arkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong and offensive lineman Kevin Blackstock got into a heated argument and had to be separated by quarterback Taylen Green on the sidelines.
Coming out of halftime, Pittman told McGregor that Green was rattled in the first half and the Hogs used the phrase “poise under pressure” multiple times. Dvoracek detailing every aspect of Arkansas’ ill-conceived attempt at a fake field goal. This crew went above and beyond on Saturday.
5. Penn State 21, Illinois 7 (NBC prime time; Noah Eagle play-by-play, Todd Blackledge analyst, Kathryn Tappen sideline)
Penn State thwarted NBC’s hopes of a rare one-score game (of the 16 Big Ten-controlled prime-time NBC contests, only one has had a single-digit final margin), but this one was close enough; the Nittany Lions scored their clinching touchdown with 1:55 left.
Blackledge does a nice job of conveying complicated observations and smoothing them out for the viewers. He described the mesh-rub route that led to Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer’s touchdown pass to tight end Carson Goda as “There’s a collision, it’s clean and there’s a completion.” Blackledge also emphasized Penn State tight end/short-yardage quarterback Tyler Warren’s quality holds, fakes and handoffs, especially on a Nick Singleton touchdown run.
6. Colorado 48, UCF 21 (Fox mid-afternoon; Kevin Kugler play-by-play, Brock Huard analyst, Allison Williams sideline)
Kevin Kugler, the best play-by-play voice in football or basketball you might not know, filled in for Jason Benetti, who was busy calling the clinching game for the playoff-bound Detroit Tigers. After Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter crossed the goal line on a touchdown reception and channeled Desmond Howard, Kugler came up with a great line: “If he is there in December claiming a trophy, you will see this pose at the Heisman ceremony.”
The more I listen to Huard, the more I just want to watch film with him. He’s so detail-oriented, and it came through when he showcased UCF’s guards: “Both (Adrian) Medley and (Marcellus) Marshall are excellent in the pull (run) game. If you don’t get puncture and if you don’t get knock back and you allow those big men to pull around and get body on a body.”
Huard is a top-three analyst alongside Klatt and Herbstreit and comes across as more subtle in his delivery. Kugler has a great radio voice, and it translates well to television, even on short notice.
7. USC 38, Wisconsin 21 (CBS mid-afternoon; Brad Nessler play-by-play, Gary Danielson analyst, Jenny Dell sideline)
For a generation, SEC fans sharpened their fangs for Danielson, who never pulled any takes in his analysis. But on Big Ten action, I’ve found Danielson’s breakdowns informative and well thought-out.
I enjoyed hearing Danielson explain the essence of Lincoln Riley’s offense when a back motioned wide in order to spread out Wisconsin’s zone defense and space the passing lanes. I also appreciated his explanation of how a diagonal penetration by a Wisconsin defensive tackle blew up a running play despite the defender not touching the ball carrier. Danielson does way more than follow the ball, and it is appreciated.
8. Oklahoma 27, Auburn 21 (ABC, mid-afternoon; Joe Tessitore play-by-play, Jordan Rodgers analyst, Katie George sideline)
Tessitore on the mic is an acquired taste, but I liked him in this game, especially when paired with Rodgers. Tessitore is excitable and at times over the top, but like Johnson, he excels during big plays. Early on, Tessitore really played to the Auburn faithful, but when Oklahoma rallied from an 11-point deficit midway through the fourth, Tessitore reshaped the narrative.
Rodgers pairs much better with Tessitore than usual partner Jesse Palmer, a more subtle presence who provides astute analysis. Rodgers broke down Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis’ 63-yard pick six nicely: “They dialed up a zero pressure and baited Payton Thorne into throwing exactly where they wanted him to.”
Tessitore then put an exclamation point on the contest: “What seemed hopeless just moments ago all the sudden is an Oklahoma field goal lead! Boomer Sooner on the Plains!”
9. Texas 35, Mississippi State 13 (SEC Network mid-afternoon; Tom Hart play-by-play, Cole Cubelic analyst, Alyssa Lang sideline)
This wasn’t a typical SEC Network game. This was the Longhorns’ first SEC game, and Arch Manning was starting. So Manning’s performance (26 of 31 passing, 324 yards, two touchdowns) was the underlying theme, but to this crew’s credit, it wasn’t the whole telecast.
Hart and Cubelic are not afraid to steer into areas few TV broadcasters will. Two weeks ago during Tennessee’s 71-0 win against Kent State, they brought up the body farm on campus, This time, they discussed former Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill turning a bull into a steer in front of his team as motivation for playing Texas. Their story coincided with a Texas fumble, which led to, well…
Speaking of “ball’s out” …@tom_hart and @colecubelic share the story of how Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill turned a bull into a steer at a practice before playing Texas in 1992. Hilarious exchange on @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/xmcVVKSOBR
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) September 28, 2024
10. Notre Dame 31, Louisville 24 (Peacock mid-afternoon; Paul Burmeister play-by-play, Jason Garrett analyst, Zora Stephenson sideline)
It was a big streaming day for Peacock, and this one featured a good crew. Burmeister was Notre Dame’s radio voice until this year when he shifted to calling college football each week for NBC. Considering this streaming audience was Notre Dame-centric, it was a solid pairing.
Opinions are mixed about Garrett as an analyst, but I found two of his remarks on point. He called Louisville coach Jeff Brohm “one of the great unorthodox play callers,” and that absolutely is spot-on. Then after bad snap on a Louisville punt which led to Kennedy Urlacher (Brian’s son) recovering the ball, Garrett called his shot on the Irish’s first snap: “Quarterback zone read is coming, I guarantee you.” Sure enough, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard burst in from four yards for a touchdown.
Others
Nebraska 28, Purdue 10 (Peacock early afternoon; Jac Collinsworth play-by-play, Michael Robinson analyst, Caroline Pineda sideline)
With the score tied 0-0 midway through the second quarter, Collingsworth joked after a punt, “It’s going to be a short day for whoever’s cutting up the highlights of this first half.” Later, when Nebraska took a 7-3 lead, Collingsworth teased Robinson about the last Big Ten game that ended with exactly 10 points scored: Robinson’s Penn State squad losing 6-4 to Iowa in 2004. “Yeah, I remember that game,” said Robinson, who completed 2 of 9 passes for 14 yards and two interceptions that day.
Kansas State 42, Oklahoma State 20 (ESPN early afternoon; Bob Wischusen play-by-play, Louis Riddick analyst, Kris Budden sideline)
On an incomplete pass from Oklahoma State’s Alan Bowman, Riddick got after the veteran quarterback: “That is a throw that Alan Bowman has to make. Ollie Gordon is open, you see him, they bring him across the formation. He’s got to step into that and drive the football to him. But to lead him too far out of bounds, he’s in an environment that he’s not naturally accustomed to being in as a receiver. You’ve got to make it easy for him.”
Indiana 38, Maryland 24 (BTN early afternoon; Jeff Levering play-by-play, Jake Butt analyst, Brooke Fletcher sideline)
A former Michigan tight end, Butt is becoming one of the better young analysts. On a second-quarter Maryland touchdown pass to Kaden Prather, Butt said, “Billy Edwards knew even before that ball was snapped where he was going to go with that ball.” Butt then described the coverage and positioning as well as the Indiana defender’s size deficit. Good stuff.
And …
Ohio State 38, Michigan State 7 (Peacock prime time; Andrew Siciliano play-by-play, Colt McCoy analyst, Lewis Johnson sideline)
I’ve never listened to a broadcast and truly took pity on a professional the way I did Saturday night for Siciliano, a dry-humored staple on NFL Network for years. Siciliano was solid in every aspect of this game. That said (and I really want to use all-caps here), what is NBC/Peacock doing with Colt McCoy? I understand he still carries a profile, but other than filling air with few football cliches and obvious observations, he provided nothing to the stream. To top it off, either his volume was too low or the microphone was tilted away from his mouth. He was barely audible.
I understand casual viewers sometimes tune in for big names (like Tom Brady on Fox’s NFL broadcasts), but this game involved one of the nation’s largest fan bases in Ohio State. Not that it’s excusable for a lower-tier Big Ten game, but Ohio State–Michigan State deserved a better production and, frankly, a better analyst.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos: Gregory Shamus, Erica Denhoff / Icon Sportswire; Nick Tre. Smith / Icon Sportswire; Kevin Langley / Icon Sportswire via USA Today, Marc Piscotty / Getty Images)
