Tuesday nights in the world of college football are eagerly awaited by fans as it marks the release of the College Football Playoff rankings. The rankings are revealed on ESPN by host Rece Davis and a panel of experts, one of whom used to be Kirk Herbstreit. However, this season, Herbstreit was notably absent from the show.
During the recent Alabama-LSU game, Herbstreit surprised viewers by announcing his retirement from the show. This announcement came during a promotion by play-by-play man Chris Fowler, who was expecting Herbstreit to join him and Davis on the show. However, Herbstreit made it clear that he had retired from that role, leaving Fowler and viewers surprised.
While Herbstreit used to provide his analysis remotely via video call alongside other analysts like Booger McFarland, Greg McElroy, and Joey Galloway, it seems that he will no longer be a part of the show. This means that ESPN will have to continue without one of its most prominent college football voices, with Herbstreit likely to share his opinions on ESPN College GameDay or through social media platforms in the future.
In a touching gesture, LSU paid tribute to Herbstreit’s late golden retriever, Ben, who passed away recently. Despite dealing with the loss of his beloved pet, Herbstreit continued his football duties, including calling the LSU-Alabama game. The hosts of the game set up a tribute in the press box featuring yellow and purple flowers, a framed image of Herbstreit and Ben, and a heartfelt message honoring Ben as “college football’s best friend.”
While the absence of Kirk Herbstreit from the College Football Playoff rankings show may come as a surprise to fans, it is clear that he is focusing on other aspects of his career and personal life. His contributions to the world of college football analysis are still highly valued, and fans can look forward to hearing his insights and opinions through other platforms in the future.
