ESPN has unveiled its college football commentator lineup for the 2026 season, with Tom Hart and Roy Philpott moving into expanded roles following the departures of longtime play-by-play announcers Mark Jones and Dave Flemming.
At the top for ESPN, not much has changed. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe will return as ESPN's lead college football crew. Fowler and Herbstreit are entering their 13th year in that role for ESPN.
To pair with Fowler and Herbstreit, ESPN has hired a new lead rules ****** yst, with 22-year official Steve Shaw joining the booth. Previously, he served as the NCAA's secretary-rules editor for football and national coordinator of officials. Overall, ESPN will have four rules ****** ysts on the roster this year, with Shaw joining Matt Austin, Bill LeMonnier and Jerry McGinn.
The biggest changes involve the departures of Mark Jones and Dave Flemming.
Jones, who has long been paired with Roddy Jones, has been replaced by Tom Hart. Hart previously called SEC Network's SEC Saturday Night primetime games for the past 10 seasons. Quint Kessenich will join Hart and Jones as the sideline reporter.
#hart
At the top for ESPN, not much has changed. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe will return as ESPN's lead college football crew. Fowler and Herbstreit are entering their 13th year in that role for ESPN.
To pair with Fowler and Herbstreit, ESPN has hired a new lead rules ****** yst, with 22-year official Steve Shaw joining the booth. Previously, he served as the NCAA's secretary-rules editor for football and national coordinator of officials. Overall, ESPN will have four rules ****** ysts on the roster this year, with Shaw joining Matt Austin, Bill LeMonnier and Jerry McGinn.
The biggest changes involve the departures of Mark Jones and Dave Flemming.
Jones, who has long been paired with Roddy Jones, has been replaced by Tom Hart. Hart previously called SEC Network's SEC Saturday Night primetime games for the past 10 seasons. Quint Kessenich will join Hart and Jones as the sideline reporter.
#hart
1 day ago
