SEC On ABC

ABC first began broadcasting regular season college football games in 1950, and has aired games of the now-National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) annually since 1966. After the ABC Sports division was merged into ESPN Inc. by parent company Disney in 2006, broadcasts have since been produced by ESPN, and have primarily used the ''ESPN College Football'' branding and presentation rather than ''College Football on ABC''.

, the network features games from The American, Atlantic Coast, Big 12, and Southeastern conferences. ABC's coverage consists of afternoon games, as well as primetime games under the ''Saturday Night Football'' banner.

Since the 2024 season, ABC's flagship broadcast is the SEC's top football package, which is branded on-air as the ''SEC on ABC'' with its own distinct on-air presentation; the ''SEC on ABC'' consists primarily of 3:30 p.m. ET games featuring SEC teams (succeeding the previous ''SEC on CBS''), as well as selected ''Saturday Night Football'' telecasts.

History

1950s

By 1950, a small number of prominent football colleges, including the University of Pennsylvania (ABC) and the University of Notre Dame (DuMont Television Network) had entered into individual contracts with networks to broadcast their games on a regional basis. In fact, all of Penn's home games were broadcast on ABC during the 1950 season under a contract that paid the university $150,000. However, prior to the 1951 season, the NCAA – alarmed by reports that indicated television broadcasts had decreased attendance at games – asserted control and prohibited live game broadcasts. Although the NCAA successfully forced Penn and Notre Dame to break their contracts, the NCAA suffered withering attacks for its 1951 policy, faced threats of antitrust hearings and eventually caved in and lifted blackouts of certain sold-out games. Bowl games were always outside the control of the NCAA, and the 1952 Rose Bowl at the end of that season was the first truly national telecast of a college football game, on NBC.

For the 1952 season, the NCAA relented somewhat, but limited telecasts to ''one'' nationally broadcast game each week. The NCAA sold the exclusive rights to broadcast the weekly game to NBC for $1.144 million. ABC was able to circumvent these restrictions by producing a television series, ''Notre Dame Football'', that featured a filmed version of the previous day's Notre Dame Fighting Irish football contest, with dead ball time and some inconsequential plays edited out for time, on Sunday evenings in fall 1953. Because the telecast was not live, it was legal under NCAA rules. ABC acquired the exclusive NCAA contract for 1954, losing it in 1955 to NBC.

The NCAA believed that broadcasting a single live game per week would prevent further controversy while limiting any decrease in attendance. However, the Big Ten Conference was unhappy with the arrangement, and it pressured the NCAA to allow regional telecasts as well. Finally in 1955, the NCAA revised its plan, keeping eight national games while permitting regional telecasts on five specified weeks during the season. ABC won the contract under this arrangement for 1960 and 1961.

1960s

ABC won the NCAA contract from the 1966 season onwards. This was essentially the television plan that stayed in place until the University of Oklahoma and the University of Georgia filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in 1981, alleging antitrust violations. The lawsuit, '' NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma'', made it all the way to the Supreme Court, who in 1984 ruled in favor of Oklahoma and Georgia and declared the NCAA's forced collective contract a violation of antitrust law. ABC then negotiated with the College Football Association for its game package.

ABC announced the entire 1966 TV schedule in June with 8 national games and 24 regional games for a total of 15 broadcast windows. In 1966, the NCAA allowed each school to appear on ABC for at most one national telecast and one regional telecast. On November 19, 1966, ABC showed a regional doubleheader. The main early game was Notre Dame-Michigan State (ranked 1 and 2). This was the famous 10–10 tie. ABC was unable to televise this game live nationally due to the above restriction. However, ABC got approval from the NCAA to show this game on tape delay in the late timeslot in the regions of the country which got Kentucky-Tennessee in the early timeslot.

On September 23, 1967, Chris Schenkel and Bud Wilkinson were scheduled to announce the Penn State-Navy game. However, there was an NABET strike of engineers and technicians which AFTRA was supporting and this duo (members of AFTRA) refused to work the game. So ABC Sports producer Chuck Howard did play-by-play on this game. Howard lined up Jim Tarman (Penn State's SID) and Bud Thalman (Navy's SID) to provide color commentary.

On October 12 and October 19, 1968, Keith Jackson worked with Bud Wilkinson on the primary game because Chris Schenkel was in Mexico City working the Olympics. The November 16 Alabama-Miami game was the first ever prime time regular season college football national telecast.

1970s

The September 2, 1973 edition of the '' Abeliene (TX) Reporter-News'' stated that ABC would be broadcasting 37 games (24 regionally, 13 nationally) that season. Chris Schenkel, Keith Jackson, Bill Flemming, Lynn Sanner, and Bob Murphy were named as the play-by-play men with Bud Wilkinson, Duffy Daugherty (who joined Schenkel and Wilkinson, creating a 3-man booth for its #1 team), Lee Grosscup, Forest Evashevski, and Monty Stickles as color commentators. ''College Football Today'' both preceded and followed the games. At halftime, was first half highlights and ''Coaches Corner'' with a different coach being interviewed weekly.

In 1974, ABC elevated Jackson to #1 announcer replacing Chris Schenkel, who moved to anchor the studio show. Also that year, ABC used many active coaches (who were on off-weeks) as guest analysts. John McKay was originally scheduled to work the season opener (UCLA @ Tennessee) on September 7, but Bob Devaney (then-Athletic Director for the Nebraska Cornhuskers) called the game with Jackson. Meanwhile, ABC added Jim Lampley and Don Tollefson for sideline interviews and features on the telecasts. This duo made its debut on the September 7 game. The September 9, 1974 game ( Notre Dame @ Georgia Tech) was the first ever NCAA college football Monday night telecast. For the Monday night telecast, Jackson paired with the then-Texas head coach Darrell Royal to broadcast the game.

In 1975, ABC carried two Monday night games. The first Monday night game was Missouri vs. Alabama on September 8, and Notre Dame vs. Boston College (at Foxboro) on September 15. ABC continued to use active coaches as guest commentators on some games this year.

In 1976, ABC added ex- Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian as its #1 analyst. ABC opened the season with a Thursday night telecast (UCLA @ Arizona State).

By 1977, Keith Jackson, Chris Schenkel, Verne Lundquist, Jim Lampley, and Bill Flemming were ABC's primary play-by-play announcers. Schenkel called the October 15 game (Texas @ Arkansas) as Jackson was calling Game 4 of the World Series later that afternoon. Ex-Arkansas coach and Frank Broyles was in his first year with ABC as an analyst. Meanwhile, Ara Parseghian and Lee Grosscup were ABC's primary analysts along with Broyles. In other words, Grosscup essentially alternated with Broyles and Parseghian as the #1 analyst. ABC had a policy which prevented Broyles from calling any Arkansas games since he was still employed by Arkansas (as the athletic director).

ABC opened the 1978 season with a prime time game on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend (Nebraska vs. Alabama at Birmingham) and also carried a prime time game (Texas A&M @ Texas) on Friday, December 1. On October 7, after calling the Oklahoma-Texas game in Dallas, Keith Jackson headed to New York and called Game 4 of the American League Championship Series that night. On December 2, ABC showed both Division II semifinals and the Division III Championship regionally with Georgia Tech @ Georgia. And on December 9, ABC showed the Division 1AA semifinals regionally with the Division II final.

ABC did not carry any prime time games in 1979. On October 13, ABC joined the football game (1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma vs. 1979 Texas Longhorns football team, Texas at Dallas) in progress after Game 4 of the 1979 World Series, World Series. Meanwhile, ESPN College Football, ESPN (which launched in September 1979) televised selected non-ABC games on tape delay. ABC had exclusive rights to live telecasts.

1980s

ABC opened the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1980 season with a prime time game (1980 Arkansas Razorbacks football team, Arkansas @ 1980 Texas Longhorns football team, Texas) on Labor Day. On October 11, after calling the 1980 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma-Texas game in Dallas, Keith Jackson headed to Astrodome, Houston and joined the Major League Baseball on ABC, telecast of Game 4 of the 1980 National League Championship Series, National League Championship Series in the middle innings.

By 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1981, ABC used Frank Broyles as the #1 analyst after a few years of essentially alternating with Ara Parseghian in that year. The next year, Ara worked for SEC on CBS, CBS. 1 of the games he didn't participate with Keith Jackson in the broadcast booth is the then-#1 1981 Texas Longhorns football team, Texas Longhorns being defeated by his 1981 Arkansas Razorbacks football team, Arkansas Razorbacks 42-11, which at the time he was still the athletic director for Arkansas Razorbacks, Arkansas, which goes against ESPN on ABC, ABC Sports's policy. Also on that year, Chris Schenkel was removed from the College Football broadcasts altogether.

Per the September 1, 1982 edition of the ''Elyria (OH) Chronicle Telegram'' and the September 1, 1982 edition of ''Sports Illustrated'', ABC and SEC on CBS, CBS officials met with NCAA representatives and flipped a coin to determine "control dates". This allowed the network with priority on a particular date to have first choice when selecting the game it wished to air and whether it wanted the 12:00 ET or 3:30 Eastern Time Zone, ET timeslot. CBS won the first toss and thus earned first choice on seven dates: September 18, September 25, October 2, October 9, October 16, November 6, and November 20. ABC then got first pick on six dates, September 11, October 23, October 30, November 13, November 27, and December 4. ABC and CBS also had the right to take away a game from College Football on TBS, WTBS as long as it did so no later than the Monday before the game. WTBS was only able to show teams that had not been on national TV in 1981 and a maximum of four teams that had been on regional TV on two occasions. Beginning in 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1982, Jim Lampley hosted ''College Football Today'' alongside and Beano Cook. Jack Whitaker was also on the ABC pregame/halftime show.

On October 9, 1982, Game 4 of the 1982 American League Championship Series, ALCS ran so long after a lengthy rain delay that ABC was unable to join the football games (which included 1982 California Golden Bears football team, California @ 1982 Washington Huskies football team, Washington (although the network did join that game during the second rain delay), Holy Cross Crusaders football, Holy Cross @ Colgate Red Raiders football, Colgate, Southern Miss Golden Eagles football, Southern Miss vs. 1982 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team, Mississippi State, and 1982 Iowa Hawkeyes football team, Iowa @ 1982 Indiana Hoosiers football team, Indiana) until late in the 4th quarter. ABC did not air any college football game on October 16. CBS meanwhile, had the late window and Major League Baseball on NBC, NBC carried Game 4 of the 1982 World Series, World Series at 1 p.m. Lee Grosscup worked with Keith Jackson on two late season 1982 Arkansas Razorbacks football team, Arkansas games (on November 20 and December 4) because of ABC's aforementioned policy that prevented Broyles (who was the Arkansas AD) from calling Razorback games. Instead, he was assigned as an analyst for the 1982 USC Trojans football team, USC-1982 UCLA Bruins football team, UCLA (November 20) contest and worked alongside Al Michaels. He would work again with Michaels the next year for the 1983 Gator Bowl, Gator Bowl contest between 1983 Iowa Hawkeyes football team, Iowa and 1983 Florida Gators football team, Florida, while substituting for Grosscup, who was out with an illness.

On October 8, 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1983, ABC aired some 1983 NCAA Division III football season, Division III games (including Muhlenberg College, Muhlenberg @ Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Carnegie Mellon Tartans football, Carnegie Mellon @ Allegheny College, Allegheny, and Heidelberg University (Ohio), Heidelberg @ Mount Union Purple Raiders football, Mount Union) to small portions of the country to satisfy its TV contract requirements on DIII games. On October 15, ABC aired Game 4 of the 1983 World Series, World Series at 1 prior to 1983 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Nebraska-1983 Missouri Tigers football team, Missouri while CBS went head-to-head with the World Series (with 1983 Texas Longhorns football team, Texas @ 1983 Arkansas Razorbacks football team, Arkansas and South Dakota State Jackrabbits football, South Dakota State @ Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks football, Nebraska-Omaha) in most of the country.

As previously mentioned, in June 1984, a Supreme Court of the United States, US Supreme Court ruling ended the control that the NCAA had exercised on televised college football and allowed individual colleges to make their own TV deals. CBS obtained rights to Atlantic Coast Conference, ACC, Big Ten Conference, Big 10 and Pac-12 Conference, Pac 10 home games while ABC obtained rights to the College Football Association (essentially home games for all schools other than the B10 and P10). CBS also separately obtained rights to Miami Hurricanes football, Miami Hurricanes home games, including the Hail Flutie, Boston College-Miami contest and the Army-Navy Game. CBS and ABC typically carried only 1-2 games per time slot rather than the frequent large slates of regional games in prior years. Meanwhile, ESPN carried live CFA games each Saturday typically at noon and 7:30 p.m. WTBS carried Southeastern Conference, SEC games. College Football on USA, USA Network also carried games (primarily the Big Eight Conference, Big 8). ABC did not carry any games on September 22 while CBS did not carry any on October 6.

ABC used Al Trautwig on play-by-play on October 19, 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1985 (1985 Texas Longhorns football team, Texas @ 1985 Arkansas Razorbacks football team, Arkansas) and Tim Brant on October 26 (1985 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Colorado @ 1985 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Nebraska) as Al Michaels was calling the 1985 World Series, World Series. On December 7, Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles called the first half of SMU Mustangs football under Bobby Collins#1985 season, SMU @ 1985 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma. Jackson became sick at halftime, so Brant and Broyles called the second half.

On October 11, 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1986, Keith Jackson called Game 3 of the 1986 National League Championship Series, NLCS. Instead, Corey McPherrin (1986 Miami Hurricanes football team, Miami @ 1986 West Virginia Mountaineers football team, West Virginia) and Tim Brant (1986 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma vs. 1986 Texas Longhorns football team, Texas) did play-by-play alongside Lynn Swann and Mike Adamle respectively for ABC that day.

In 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1987, ABC took over Big 10/Pac 10 rights while CBS got rights to the CFA, while retaining the rights to broadcast ACC and Miami Hurricanes home games. On August 30, ABC carried the Kickoff Classic (1987 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Tennessee vs. 1987 Iowa Hawkeyes football team, Iowa) on a Sunday afternoon. Neither ABC nor CBS carried college football during the late afternoon on October 24 as ABC televised Game 6 of the 1987 World Series, World Series at 4 p.m. ET. The game ABC aired before the World Series was a 38–14 victory for the 1987 Iowa Hawkeyes football team, Iowa Hawkeyes over the 1987 Purdue Boilermakers football team, Purdue Boilermakers.

In 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1988, ABC used Chris Schenkel on two games in October (1988 Washington Huskies football team, Washington @ 1988 Arizona State Sun Devils football team, Arizona State on the 8th and 1988 UCLA Bruins football team, UCLA @ 1988 Arizona Wildcats football team, Arizona on the 22nd) alongside Dick Vermeil. On October 8, Gary Bender was on 1988 American League Championship Series, ALCS TV duty and thus Schnekel filled in for him.

1990s

In 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1991, ABC acquired the rights to the CFA from CBS in addition to the B10/P10 and went back to televising several regional games in many timeslots. Meanwhile, Notre Dame broke apart from the CFA and signed a deal with Notre Dame Football on NBC, NBC for its home games. ABC televised six games on September 21 and used its ''Monday Night Football'' announcers (Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf) on two of those games. Michaels called the 1991 Arizona State Sun Devils football team, Arizona State-1991 USC Trojans football team, USC contest with Lynn Swann while Gifford and Dierdorf together, called 1991 Houston Cougars football team, Houston @ 1991 Illinois Fighting Illini football team, Illinois. One year later, Michaels would team with Swann again for a game between 1992 California Golden Bears football team, California and 1992 USC Trojans football team, USC on October 17.

1992 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1992 was the first year that ABC made most of its regional games available via pay-per-view (similar to what became known as ESPN GamePlan). Meanwhile, ABC used Dan Dierdorf on play-by-play (with Bo Schembechler on color commentary) for a few games such as 1992 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Bowling Green @ 1992 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, Ohio State on September 12 and Ohio State @ 1992 Indiana Hoosiers football team, Indiana on November 14. The 1992 season also featured the inaugural 1992 SEC Championship Game, SEC Championship Game.

On September 11, 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1993, ABC televised a tripleheader. 1993 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, Notre Dame @ 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team, Michigan and 1993 Washington Huskies football team, Washington @ 1993 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, Ohio State in prime time were aired nationally while 1993 USC Trojans football team, USC @ 1993 Penn State Nittany Lions football team, Penn State, 1993 Kansas Jayhawks football team, Kansas @ 1993 Michigan State Spartans football team, Michigan State, 1993 Texas A&M Aggies football team, Texas A&M @ 1993 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma, and 1993 LSU Tigers football team, LSU @ 1993 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team, Mississippi State were all aired regionally at 3:30 p.m. Brent Musburger had a PGA Tour on ABC, golf assignment on October 30 and thus, Roger Twibell called Notre Dame vs. 1993 Navy Midshipmen football team, Navy alongside Dick Vermeil in his place.

On its September 24, 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1994 regional state, ABC included an 1-AA game featuring 1994 Alcorn State Braves football team, Alcorn State and Steve McNair.

ABC intentionally kept Bob Griese off of 1995 Michigan Wolverines football team, Michigan games during the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1995 season (per an ABC Sports policy) because his son Brian Griese, Brian was the backup quarterback for the Wolverines. Meanwhile, Brent Musburger was on 1995 American League Division Series, American League Division Series duty on October 7 and thus, Roger Twibell called 1995 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, Notre Dame @ 1995 Washington Huskies football team, Washington in his place. Mark Jones (sportscaster), Mark Jones meanwhile, substituted for John Saunders (journalist), John Saunders as the studio host when Saunders was assigned to anchor Major League Baseball on ABC, ABC's coverage of the Major League Baseball 1995 Major League Baseball season#Postseason, playoffs. On November 11, Bob Griese attended parents weekend at Michigan, so Tim Brant worked the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Nebraska @ 1995 Kansas Jayhawks football team, Kansas broadcast with Keith Jackson. ABC expanded to a tripleheader (1995 Army Cadets football team, Army vs. 1995 Navy Midshipmen football team, Navy and 1995 Texas Longhorns football team, Texas @ 1995 Texas A&M Aggies football team, Texas A&M as the first two games) on December 2 and televised the 1995 SEC Championship Game, SEC title game in prime time.

In 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season, 1996, CBS obtained rights to the SEC, Big East Conference, Big East, and Army–Navy Game, Army/Navy Game and also added a Conference USA game. ABC however, still had rights to the 1996 SEC Championship Game, SEC title game. Meanwhile, ABC changed its policy from the previous season and allowed Bob Griese to call Michigan games. On September 21, ABC had planned to show 1996 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma @ 1996 San Diego State Aztecs football team, San Diego State as one of its 3:30 regional games. But Major League Baseball moved the 1996 San Diego Padres season, Padres game on that date from night to afternoon for the Fox Major League Baseball, Fox Major League Baseball Game of the Week, game of the week creating a stadium conflict at SDCCU Stadium, Jack Murphy. MLB had priority so the San Diego State game was forced to the evening and off of ABC.

In 1997 NCAA Division I FBS football season, 1997, ABC began using a fixed digital on-screen graphic, on-screen scoreboard on its broadcasts.

In 1998, ABC was awarded the first exclusive Bowl Championship Series television contract beginning with the 1999 series. In 2005, the network lost rights to most of the BCS games, including the BCS National Championship Game, to Fox Sports (United States), Fox beginning with the 2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, 2006-07 series, in a deal worth close to $20 million per game. Although due to a separate arrangement with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, ABC retained the broadcast rights to events in the series that were held at the Rose Bowl (stadium), Rose Bowl stadium, such as the Rose Bowl Game and the 2010 BCS National Championship Game, 2010 BCS Championship. ABC sister network ESPN College Football, ESPN assumed the BCS rights, including the rights to the Rose Bowl, beginning in 2010–11 NCAA football bowl games, 2010.

Keith Jackson, who was supposed to retire after the 1998 NCAA Division I FBS football season, 1998 season, stayed with the network until 2005 NCAA Division I FBS football season, 2005, in which he announced games televised primarily from the West Coast, where he was based; Jackson's last broadcast with the network was the 2006 Rose Bowl.

In 1999 NCAA Division I FBS football season, 1999, as Jackson reduced his schedule, ABC began the year with the team of Jackson and Bob Griese intact – albeit not as the lead announcing team, as they almost exclusively handled action from Pac-10 Conference teams; Brent Musburger and Dan Fouts returned, as did the longtime tandem of Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson (who reunited in 2017 on CBS). These assignments were not permanent and many different combinations were used ABC locked its broadcasting teams in mid-season. Jackson was teamed with Fouts, Musburger was paired with Danielson, and Nessler with Bob Griese.

2000s

In 2000, ABC shifted Dan Fouts to the ''Monday Night Football'' booth. Besides teaming with Brent Musburger and Keith Jackson, Fouts the year prior, teamed with Charlie Jones (sportscaster), Charlie Jones at least once (1999 UCLA Bruins football team, UCLA @ 1999 USC Trojans football team, USC on November 20).

Prior to the addition of the 12th game on a permanent basis in 2002, ABC aired pre-season classic games including the ''Kickoff Classic'' and ''Pigskin Classic''. In the 2005 NCAA Division I FBS football season, 2005 season, ABC aired 77 games in 36 windows including the National Championship.

From 2002 to 2005, ABC highlighted the top game of the week as the "BCS Spotlight Game."

On December 6, 2003 NCAA Division I FBS football season, 2003, Tim Brant filled in for Keith Jackson, who was ill, on 2003 Oregon State Beavers football team, Oregon State @ 2003 USC Trojans football team, USC.

The September 10, NCAA Division I FBS football season, 2004 game between 2004 Florida State Seminoles football team, Florida State and 2004 Miami Hurricanes football team, Miami was originally scheduled for Labor Day (September 6) at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, but was moved due to a Hurricane Frances, hurricane. The November 13 2004 Utah Utes football team, Utah-2004 Wyoming Cowboys football team, Wyoming game was delayed almost two hours due to a power failure. Also, due to poor lighting, ABC was only able to televise the 2nd half of the game.

Beginning with the 2006 season, ABC started regularly showing prime time games under the ''Saturday Night Football'' umbrella, while games with 12:00 p.m. Eastern game times are televised by ABC on an occasional basis. This marked a departure from 7:00 p.m. West Coast-only games (ending after the 2006 season) and occasional 8:00 p.m. games (occurring every week as part of ''Saturday Night Football''). Also, the recently developed ''BCS Spotlight Game'' was essentially replaced by ''Saturday Night Football''.

The 2006 season was marked by a lot of reshuffling in its broadcasting teams in addition to Jackson, as Lynn Swann departed from ABC to embark on a failed political run, Aaron Taylor (born 1972), Aaron Taylor left to pursue a career change, and Gary Danielson went to CBS Sports, CBS to cover SEC on CBS, Southeastern Conference games. As a result, Dan Fouts began calling play-by-play.

ESPN, which is majority owned by The Walt Disney Company, has also increased its involvement with ABC over the years. Hosts from the cable channel's ''College GameDay (football), College GameDay'' program typically appear during halftime of the 3:30 game (often to preview the ''Saturday Night Football'' game they may have done the broadcast from) and when they are on-site during the Saturday night game. In addition, the announcers have become increasingly interchangeable. From the 2006 season onward, as part of a ESPN on ABC, network-wide rebranding of sports coverage, broadcasts on ABC are now presented under ESPN branding and graphics as ''ESPN College Football on ABC''.

On November 18, 2006, ABC's broadcast of the rivalry between 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, Ohio State and 2006 Michigan Wolverines football team, Michigan (then the #1 and #2 teams in the AP Top 25 college football rankings), in which the Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines, 42–39, was the network's highest-rated college football contest in over 13 years.

2010s

Since 2012, regional coverage has significantly decreased with the loss of certain Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 12 rights to ''Fox College Football''. ABC now airs a single game in the noon, 3:30 and 7:30 windows.

In 2013, ABC's ''Saturday Night Football'' theme music was implemented on all of the college football broadcasts across the ESPN networks, including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, and ESPNU.

In 2015, a weekly noon window returned (with the exception of week one) for the first time since 2005.

2020s

On November 21, 2020, ABC aired its first SEC regular season game since 1995, 2020 Florida Gators football team, Florida–2020 Vanderbilt Commodores football team, Vanderbilt, which was moved from ESPN due to the postponement of an ACC game (2020 Clemson Tigers football team, Clemson–2020 Florida State Seminoles football team, Florida State) that was originally expected to air on the network due to COVID-19 pandemic complications.

On December 10, 2020, ESPN announced that it had acquired the top-tier rights to the SEC under a 10-year, $3 billion contract beginning in the 2024 season; ABC will hold rights to the top SEC game of the week (replacing College Football on CBS Sports, CBS). Unlike CBS, where games primarily aired in the 3:30 window, ESPN was given the flexibility of airing the top game on ABC in any window, including at Noon and in prime time. ABC will also hold rights to the SEC Championship Game. All SEC games broadcast by ABC are branded as the ''SEC on ABC'', with their own distinct on-air presentation (including new graphics and a rearrangement of the 1990s ''ESPN College Football'' theme music) separate from other ''ESPN College Football'' telecasts.

Under a renewal of ESPN's contract for the College Football Playoff coinciding with its expansion, ABC will begin simulcasting two of the new first-round games beginning in 2024. Beginning in 2027, ABC will simulcast the College Football Playoff National Championship with ESPN.

Bowl games

The following bowl games have been broadcast on ABC:

*Music City Bowl (2022–2023)
*LA Bowl (2021–2023)
*Celebration Bowl (2015–present)
*Citrus Bowl (1987–2010, 2013–present)
*New Mexico Bowl (2022)
*Independence Bowl (1991, 2014, 2021)
*Outback Bowl (2011–2012, 2017, 2021)
*Las Vegas Bowl (2001, 2013–2019, 2023)
*Pop-Tarts Bowl (2019, 2024–present)
*Boca Raton Bowl (2019)
*Duke's Mayo Bowl, Belk Bowl (2018)
*Liberty Bowl (1964–1980, 1995, 2011, 2017)
*Pinstripe Bowl (2015, 2024–present)
*List of Rose Bowl Game broadcasters, Rose Bowl Game (1989–2010)
*2010 BCS National Championship Game, BCS National Championship Game (2010)
*Fiesta Bowl (1999–2006)
*List of Orange Bowl broadcasters, Orange Bowl (1962–1964, 1999–2006)
*Sugar Bowl (1953–1957, 1970–2006)
*Aloha Bowl (1986–2000)
*Peach Bowl (1989–1990)
*Gator Bowl (1965–1968, 1972–1985, 2025-present)
*Bluebonnet Bowl (1964–1967, 1973–1975)
*1962 Gotham Bowl, Gotham Bowl (1962)
*Bluegrass Bowl (1958)
*Cure Bowl (2023)
*Birmingham Bowl (2023)
*Armed Forces Bowl (2023)
*First Responder Bowl (2020)
*Alamo Bowl (2024)
*College Football Playoff First Round games (2024–present; simulcast with ESPN)
*College Football Playoff National Championship, CFP National Championship Game (beginning in 2027)

Nielsen ratings

Top-rated recent regular season games

Recent Bowl Games

Features

From 1981 until 2014, ABC aired the in-studio pre-game show ''College Football Countdown'' before its slate of regional games at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time Zone, Eastern Time. For many years, ''College Football Countdown'' was broadcast from ABC's Time Square Studios. This ended in 2011 when a new set was built at the ESPN studios in Bristol, CT.

ABC aired the Sugar Bowl from 1969 to 2006, the Rose Bowl Game from 1989 to 2010, the Citrus Bowl (game), Citrus Bowl from 1987 to 2010 and since 2013, and the Celebration Bowl throughout its existence.

From 1998 to 2005, when ABC held the exclusive rights to the Bowl Championship Series, the network aired a ''Bowl Championship Series Selection Show'' at the end of Championship Weekend on the Sunday after the games.

Personalities

At ESPN Studio F in Bristol, Connecticut, Kevin Negandhi and Booger McFarland provide in-studio game analysis, with Dan Orlovsky joining them for select weeks. Negandhi also provides in-game studio updates.

Present

Play-by-play

* Chris Fowler
* Sean McDonough
* Joe Tessitore
* Mark Jones (sportscaster), Mark Jones
* Dave Pasch
* Bob Wischusen
* Dave Flemming
* Anish Shroff
* Beth Mowins
* Brian Custer
* Matt Barrie (sportscaster), Matt Barrie
* Clay Matvick
* John Schriffen
* Tom Hart (sportscaster), Tom Hart
* Mike Monaco
* Lowell Galindo
* Mike Morgan (sportscaster), Mike Morgan
* Bill Roth (sportscaster), Bill Roth

Analysts

* Kirk Herbstreit
* Greg McElroy
* Jesse Palmer
* Louis Riddick
* Dusty Dvoracek
* Roddy Jones (running back), Roddy Jones
* Brock Osweiler
* Rod Gilmore
* Tom Luginbill
* Kirk Morrison
* Jordan Rodgers
* Rocky Boiman
* Jay Walker (legislator), Jay Walker
* Rene Ingoglia
* Dustin Fox
* Joey Galloway
* Eric Wood
* Andre Ware
* Sam Acho

Sideline reporters

*Holly Rowe
*Molly McGrath
*Katie George (sportscaster), Katie George
*Quint Kessenich
*Kris Budden
*Laura Rutledge

Studio hosts

*Matt Barrie (sportscaster), Matt Barrie
*Kevin Connors
*Rece Davis
*Kevin Negandhi

Studio analysts

*Kirk Herbstreit
*Lee Corso
*Desmond Howard
*Nick Saban
*Pat McAfee
*Joey Galloway
*Booger McFarland
*Trevor Matich

Former

Play-by-play

*Adam Amin
*Dave Barnett
*Gary Bender
*Jason Benetti
*Allen Bestwick
*Craig Bolerjack
*Tim Brando
*Bob Carpenter (sportscaster), Bob Carpenter
*Jack Corrigan (sportscaster), Jack Corrigan
*Dan Fouts
*Ron Franklin (1988–2010)
*Terry Gannon
*Jerry Gross
*Kevin Harlan
*Jeff Hullinger
*Jim Kelly (sportscaster), Jim Kelly
*Dave LaMont
*Wayne Larrivee
*Steve Levy
*Chris Lincoln
*Mark Malone
*Tom Mees
*Joel Meyers
*Brad Nessler
*Mike Patrick (2 stints)
*Jerry Punch
*Bob Rathbun
*Sam Rosen (sportscaster), Sam Rosen
*Tim Ryan (sportscaster), Tim Ryan
*Kevin Slaten-Jackson
*Jim Simpson (sportscaster), Jim Simpson
*Dave Sims
*Charley Steiner
*Jim Thacker
*Gary Thorne
*Mike Tirico
*Rich Waltz
*Pam Ward

Analysts

*Irv Brown
*Todd Blackledge
*Dean Blevins
*Todd Christensen
*Lee Corso (1987-2005)
*Ed Cunningham
*Bill Curry (1997-2007)
*Bob Davie (American football), Bob Davie (2002–2011)
*Steve Davis (running back), Steve Davis
*Gary Danielson (1990-2005)
*Mike Golic
*Mike Golic Jr.
*Mike Gottfried (1990-2007)
*Danny Kanell
*Matt Hasselbeck
*Lou Holtz (2005-2014)
*Brock Huard
*Craig James (running back), Craig James
*Dan Jiggetts
*Kevin Kiley (sportscaster), Kevin Kiley
*Shaun King (American football), Shaun King
*Paul Maguire (1980–1986, 2006–2008)
*Mark May occasional games (2005–2016)
*Pat McAfee
*Don McPherson
*Urban Meyer (2011)
*Matt Millen
*Dan Mullen
*David Norrie
*Chris Spielman (2001–2015)
*Joe Theismann
*Mike Tomczak
*Gino Torretta
*Tommy Tuberville (2017–2018)
*Rick Walker
*Gene Washington (49ers), Gene Washington
*Bud Wilkinson
*Ken Willard
*Randy Wright
*Robert Griffin III (2021-2024)

Sideline reporters

*Erin Andrews
*Thea Andrews
*Mike Adamle
*Jack Arute
*Dean Blevins
*Heather Cox
*Stacey Dales
*Jimmy Dykes (broadcaster), Jimmy Dykes
*Jeannine Edwards (sportscaster), Jeannine Edwards
*Alex Flanagan
*Chris Fowler
*Mike Golic
*Kevin Guthrie
*Todd Harris
*Jemele Hill
*Adrian Karsten
*Neil Lomax
*Jessica Mendoza
*Samantha Ponder
*Jerry Punch
*Tom Rinaldi
*Dave Ryan (sportscaster), Dave Ryan
*Lisa Salters
*Shannon Spake
*Rob Stone (sportscaster), Rob Stone
*Maria Taylor (sportscaster), Maria Taylor
*Rick Walker
*Rich Waltz
*Pam Ward
*Allison Williams (reporter), Allison Williams
*Kellen Winslow
*Matt Winer

Studio hosts

*Tim Brando (1987)
*Bob Carpenter (sportscaster), Bob Carpenter (1988)
*Linda Cohn
*Wendi Nix
*Mike Tirico
*Stan Verrett
*Adnan Virk
*Chris Fowler

Studio analysts

*Emmanuel Acho
*Trev Alberts
*Mack Brown
*Gene Chizik
*Beano Cook
*Rod Gilmore
*Danny Kanell
*Lou Holtz
*Craig James (running back), Craig James
*Chip Kelly
*Mark May
*Jim L. Mora, Jim Mora
*Dan Mullen
*David Pollack
*Mark Sanchez
*Robert Smith (running back), Robert Smith
*Marcus Spears (defensive end), Marcus Spears
*Andre Ware

See also

* ESPN College Football
* AT&T SportsNet
* Big Ten Network
* CBS Sports Network
* ''College Football Final''
* College football on television
* ''College Football on NBC Sports''
* ''College Football Scoreboard''
* ''ESPN College Football Primetime''
* Pac-12 Network
* SEC Network
* ACC Network
* Spectrum Sports
* Stadium (sports network), Stadium

References

External links

*
NCAA News & Videos - ABC News
*
*
*

{{College bowl games on ABC

1950 American television series debuts
1960s American sports television series
1970s American sports television series
1980s American sports television series
1990s American sports television series
2000s American sports television series
2010s American sports television series
2020s American sports television series
ABC Sports
American Broadcasting Company original programming
Black-and-white American television shows
College football television series, ABC
American English-language television shows
Sports telecast series