Kirk Herbstreit Sparks Talks of Quitting Media With Strong Stance
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Kirk Herbstreit is a prominent sports commentator for college football and the NFL, known for his work with ESPN.
Herbstreit is one of the analysts for ESPN’s “College GameDay,” and he serves as the lead commentator for ESPN on ABC’s marquee games. He has been a part of “College GameDay” since August 1996 and has been ESPN’s and ABC’s lead game analyst since 2006. In 2022, he partnered with Al Michaels for the inaugural season of Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football.” He continues to hold that position.
Despite his popularity and apparent passion for his work, Herbstreit admitted on “The Inner Circle Podcast” that there is one aspect of sports media that drives him crazy. He stated that if he ever had to deal with it, he would quit.
“It’s a lot of clickbait,” Herbstreit said. “It’s a lot of like really loud comments that maybe will go viral. I might not believe in it, but it’s going to go viral, and people are going to know who I am. Man, I will quit before I ever do that. If that’s what it takes to make it, I will never do that. I would rather have some fun, play around, give some people, here’s a key in the Oregon-Texas Tech game. Here’s something to keep an eye on. But I will never undress people. I will never just say crazy, outrageous things, but that’s where our industry has gone.”
Herbstreit expressed his belief that style of sports talk originated with his colleague Stephen A. Smith and former colleague Skip Bayless. The two hosted ESPN’s “First Take” together for about four years, during which they often engaged in arguments for the sake of entertainment. Herbstreit noted their approach was successful, but many other shows have since imitated it. He mentioned that the content has become so frustrating as a sports fan that he sometimes has to turn it off.
Herbstreit’s reputation as a measured, film-based analyst has long set him apart from debate-driven programming, and his remarks reinforce why ESPN continues to trust him on its biggest stages, from “College GameDay” to ABC’s top Saturday broadcasts.
The broader implication is a renewed spotlight on how college football is discussed nationally. As playoff expansion, NIL and conference realignment continue to reshape the sport, Herbstreit’s approach underscores the value of context and substance over shock value. His criticism also reflects a growing fatigue among viewers who want insight rather than theatrics, especially during high-stakes moments of the season.
Looking ahead, Herbstreit will remain a central voice throughout the College Football Playoff and the end of the NFL regular season. Whether the industry shifts or doubles down on viral commentary, his comments suggest there will always be room and demand for analysis rooted in credibility.
Herbstreit returns to the booth at 4 p.m. ET Thursday for the Rose Bowl, which pits the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide against the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in a CFP quarterfinal on ESPN.
Related: Kirk Herbstreit Calls Kyle Whittingham Perfect Choice to Rebuild Michigan
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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