Good News and Bad News: New ESPN College Football Broadcast Booths

The 2024 college football season is almost underway. The end of the era, it’s the final year the SEC will be serenaded by Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and the dulcet tones of the greatest intro music in sports. Before we lose the SEC on CBS, ESPN is unveiling a brand new lineup of broadcasting booths for the college football 2024 season. Some changes are solid moves. Others might make your ears bleed this fall.

Good News: Greg McElroy Moves Up

The ESPN B-Team received a shake-up when Todd Blackledge left the company to join NBC’s inaugural Big Ten coverage. The four-letter network made a wise decision and called up a rising star. Greg McElroy is eight years into the business, well-informed and isn’t too quick to jump the gun. After working side-by-side with Tess for years, he’s been around for plenty of big games — like last year’s duel between Will Levis and Anthony Richardson in The Swamp — and the moment never felt too big for him.

Bad News: Jesse Palmer Replaces McElroy

Joe Tessitore has a big game voice that is seemingly followed by chaos at every turn. Now that chaos must be explained by someone who would rather be on Entertainment Tonight.

Jesse Palmer doesn’t care about college football and it shows. He spent his early years in TV grinding on the SEC Network. Once he got into the ESPN studio, his analysis lost its significance. If you could create college football takes with a cookie-cutter, it would produce Jesse Palmer’s voice. His heart wants The Bachelor. Instead, ESPN is putting him in a premier broadcast position.

LOOK: Every single ESPN broadcasting team for the 2024 College Football Season

Good News: More Louis Riddick in ESPN CFB Coverage

I apologized to the former Monday Night Football broadcaster this spring at UK Pro Day. He should not have been subjected to call the Music City Bowl. Riddick is a talent that sees things the average viewer does not. It’s a reason why he’s often rumored for NFL general manager vacancies. This fall he’ll be with Mark Jones and Quint Kessenich, which means you’ll most likely hear him for Big 12 games and the final season of Pac-12 After Dark.

Bad News: ESPN Subs RGIII for Orlovsky

Matt Jones’ former ESPN Radio host appears to no longer be involved with college football. A rising star in ESPN’s NFL division, he caught a few Kentucky games alongside Bob Wischusen, one of the most gifted play-by-play broadcasters in any sport. With Orlovsky out, Robert Griffin III is moving up.

Make no mistake about it, RGIII is a cornball. The thing is, I’m kind of a cornball too. I didn’t mind some of his silly sayings while watching a shoot-out between Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. It might be a little different when the Heisman Trophy winner is spouting off nonsense in the middle of a tense night game in the SEC.

Good News: Derek Mason to the SEC Network

Many were surprised to see the former Vanderbilt head coach at SEC Media Days last month. ESPN seemingly used the event as a tryout and he was great behind the microphone. While I believe he might’ve been better in the role Gene Chizik used to hold on SEC Now as the network’s Saturday night postgame show, I’ll be glad to hear him on the call for a Kentucky game or two this fall alongside Dave Neal and Taylor Davis.

Another name I was surprised to see in the rotation: former Georgia QB Aaron Murray. After dipping his toes into the action with CBS Sports Network, he got into the podcasting game and dabbled in MACtion. Partnered with Clay Matvick, you’ll probably stumble upon the two at some point this fall and wonder, “How do I know that guy?” It’s something Murray gets often.

Bad News: More of the Brocket Ship

Brock Osweiler was the heir apparent to Peyton Manning in Denver and it was a disaster. Last year he made his debut as a broadcaster. It felt just as bad when he spent a Saturday at Kroger Field. It’s important to note that was only one game, so maybe he can figure it out, but I doubt we’ll be enlightened by his insight while he’s paired next to Dave Flemming this fall.

Good News: your Favorite ESPN Crews Remain Intact

ESPN did the right thing and retained its top talent. For the seventh straight year Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic will serve as the voices for SEC Saturday Night. On the big stick at ABC, Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler and Holly Rowe will broadcast the biggest college football game of the week. Fall will be here before you know it. Plan accordingly.