Kirk Herbstreit endured a hectic three-day, 5,400-mile journey across three football games.
It all started at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Herbstreit called the Thursday Night Football matchup on Prime Video alongside Al Michaels, as the New York Giants pulled off a shocking upset over the Philadelphia Eagles, 34-17.
After arriving at 6am PT on Friday, Herbstreit co-hosted ESPN’s College GameDay in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, which was on-site for the Indiana Hoosiers vs Oregon Ducks matchup. However, Herbstreit’s trip to Eugene did not last too long.
ESPN faces criticism for Herbstreit’s travel
ESPN was met with criticism for their decision to have Herbstreit depart College GameDay during the middle of the show, to make it to Dallas, Texas, as he had the call for the Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns game on ABC later that day. Herbstreit stayed live on-air, while he was traveling to Dallas for the game on his private jet, which dealt with many technical difficulties.
The Athletic’s Senior Sports Media Writer Andrew Marchand was not too fond of the decision to keep Herbstreit on College GameDay while he was traveling stating, “Nobody cares about any sports personalities’ travel, especially when they’re going private,” said Marchand.
“On Saturday, Herbstreit is in Oregon, then has the private jet to get him to the Texas-Oklahoma game. They travel him out there. He leaves the show early. Then they have him on the private jet trying to do it. It’s locking up. Every time he talks, it’s like when you talk to somebody on a cell phone. ‘Can you hear me? Can you hear me?’ That’s not good TV.”
ESPN and Kirk Herbstreit need figure out a better way on Saturdays.
Disrespectful to Andre Ware, screen freezing … and it made the show about him instead of college football pic.twitter.com/Yqk16F7FGO
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) October 13, 2025
ESPN’s alternative options
It did not have to be this way. ESPN could’ve easily had Herbstreit do a remote broadcast for College GameDay from Dallas, without any technical issues. Marchand also reported that fellow ESPN College Football analyst Andrew Ware was on standby, in case Herbstreit could not make it on his private jet to Dallas in time for the Red River Shootout.
This is not the first time that ESPN has had Herbstreit leave during the middle of College GameDay to make it in time for another College Football broadcast. Last season, Herbstreit departed the College GameDay show from the Ohio State Buckeyes vs Oregon Ducks game in Eugene, Oregon to broadcast the Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns game in Dallas as well.
What’s next for Herbstreit?
This week, Herbstreit will call the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals game on Thursday Night Football. He’ll then follow that up with calling the ABC afternoon game and co-hosting College GameDay on Saturday from the Ole Miss Rebels vs Georgia Bulldogs matchup in Athens, Georgia.
