Bobby Carpenter Critiques Gus Johnson's Lackluster Commentary During Ohio State's Blowout Win
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Gus Johnson didn’t bring his usual energy to Ohio State’s 59-3 shellacking of Kent State on Saturday.
Johnson has built a reputation as one of sports’ most excitable play-by-play announcers. However, he sounded disinterested when calling the lopsided college football contest for Fox on Saturday afternoon.
A former Ohio State linebacker didn’t appreciate Johnson’s lethargic performance. Bobby Carpenter criticized the broadcaster’s dull demeanor.
“Gus Johnson just sounded like a sad clown out there at the end of the game, like he didn’t want to be there calling it,” Carpenter said on his The Bobby Carpenter Show. “And I don’t blame him. It wasn’t a compelling game. You knew coming in it probably wasn’t gonna be a compelling game. Maybe you get the Western Michigan-Michigan game, and something like that happens, but that’s a rarity. You probably thought with a 48, 50-point line, whatever the heck it was, 52, that it was going to be a blowout, and it was. And at the end of the game, Gus is still sitting there, like pouting, as if, like, ‘Why am I here? Why do I have to do this?'”
Gus Johnson under fire
Carpenter wasn’t the only one to notice Johnson’s uninspired call. Several viewers took him to task on social media.
“Does Gus Johnson have a reservation at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse that he’s running late for or something?” Awful Announcing asked when sharing a clip of Johnson’s extremely subdued call on an Ohio State fumble recovery for a touchdown.
“Fox Sports has to do something about Gus Johnson,” Atlanta Falcons reporter Joe Patrick said in response to Johnson not even raising his voice as five-star freshman Chris Henry went 75 yards for his first career touchdown for the Buckeyes. “This is unacceptable commentary.”
“Is Fox afraid to tell Gus Johnson he needs to stop calling games like he’s in a library?” a fan account asked. “Sure, it’s ridiculous that Big Noon is at Ohio State for a game against Kent State, but if you’re assigned to the game, call it normally. The lack of energy is brutal to listen to. I used to love his broadcasts, but this has gotten really bad.”
Johnson momentarily found a spark with a more passionate call of Buckeyes wide receiver Brandon Inniss catching a Hail Mary touchdown to close the opening half. The 59-year-old also sounded a bit more excited when Kent State secured an end-zone interception while down 42-0 late in the third quarter.
Still, it felt like Johnson phoned in most of Saturday’s game. While it’s understandable not to treat a blowout with the same gusto as a close rivalry matchup, Johnson needs to bring more pep to Saturday’s Big Ten matchup between Ohio State and Illinois.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Sep 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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