In a candid response to ongoing accusations of SEC favoritism, longtime ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit pushed back against the claims during an appearance on the On3 show, Andy & Ari.
Herbstreit, arguably the most prominent figure in college football media, dismissed the notion that ESPN’s coverage is skewed toward the SEC, instead pointing to the network’s preference for high-profile matchups featuring marquee programs.
“Let me straighten the record on one last thing,” Herbstreit said. “You know, ESPN loves the SEC so much, that we could not have paid for a better Final 4, with Notre Dame and Ohio State and Penn State and Texas. The only one missing is Michigan, if you could somehow wedge Michigan in.”
Herbstreit took aim at the suggestion that ESPN would prioritize SEC teams like Alabama or Texas A&M over national powerhouses with massive fan bases.
“So like, this idea that we want Alabama and Texas A&M and Auburn, are you kidding me? Like if you’re asking us who we would want, uh, we’ll take Ohio State every year, Notre Dame. Like this is a ratings bonanza.”
Herbstreit’s remarks come in the context of ESPN’s extensive TV contract with the SEC, which has fueled speculation about the network’s programming and analysis favoring the conference.
However, Herbie pointed out that major brands – particularly from the Big Ten – draw the highest ratings and therefore are the most coveted for marquee matchups.
“If you get Ohio State and Notre Dame in the national championship [chuckles], you think we’re going to be like, ‘Doggone it. If we could have only gotten a couple good brands in the championship. Just didn’t work out this year,'” he said.
Acknowledging the role ratings play in driving the network’s priorities, Herbstreit emphasized the importance of prominent teams to the success of college football broadcasts.
“If you’re going to accuse us of anything, you should accuse us of wanting Ohio State, wanting Notre Dame and these big brands,” Herbie continued.
“If you know anything about ratings that’s who you want, you don’t want these small little Clemson’s and small little southern schools when it comes to cheering for ratings. Ratings are big, massive Big Ten brands, that’s what ratings are.”
Herbstreit’s comments come as college football’s most critical games approach.
In just a few hours, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl.
Then in tomorrow’s Cotton Bowl matchup, the Ohio State Buckeyes will clash with the Texas Longhorns in yet another battle of blue bloods.
What are your thoughts on Herbstreit’s comments???
We’ve heard all of the SEC-bias accusations all year long, whether it’s the location of College GameDay’s, or which game is featured in primetime, etc.
Fair or not, the complaints will always be there.
Having said that, what do you think the “dream” title game matchup for ESPN would be???
