What Happened to Kirk Herbstreit?
Kirk Herbstreit, a prominent ESPN college football analyst, was a key voice in the highly anticipated return of the EA Sports College Football video game series, appearing in both the 2024 (College Football 25) and 2025 (College Football 26) editions. However, as of June 2026, it has been reported that Herbstreit will not be featured in the upcoming EA Sports College Football 27, marking his departure from the franchise after its initial revival.
Quick Answer
Kirk Herbstreit will not be appearing in the upcoming EA Sports College Football 27, set for release in July 2026. He had previously served as a lead commentator, alongside Chris Fowler, for the relaunched EA Sports College Football 25 (2024) and College Football 26 (2025), bringing authenticity to the game's broadcast experience. His departure from the 2027 edition marks a significant change for the popular video game franchise.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
NCAA Football Series Hiatus Begins
The popular NCAA Football video game series by EA Sports goes on an indefinite hiatus following the NCAA Football 14 edition, largely due to legal issues surrounding player likeness rights, notably the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit.
Herbstreit Expresses Desire for Game's Return
Kirk Herbstreit publicly states his desire for the return of the NCAA Football series, lamenting its absence and blaming the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit for its halt.
EA Sports Announces College Football Game Revival
EA Sports officially announces its intention to bring back a college football video game, initially without the NCAA name, signaling the end of the hiatus. (Implied by context of later announcements)
Kirk Herbstreit Confirmed for EA Sports College Football 25
Kirk Herbstreit, alongside Chris Fowler, announces his involvement as a lead commentator for the relaunched EA Sports College Football 25, set for release in Summer 2024. He notes it's his 14th year in the role across the franchise.
Herbstreit Discusses Recording Workload
Herbstreit appears on 'The Pat McAfee Show' to discuss the extensive workload and intricacies of recording voiceovers for EA Sports College Football 25, confirming multiple broadcast teams for different game magnitudes.
Commentary Team Details Revealed
Further details emerge, confirming that Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the biggest games, including College Football Playoff matchups, while other ESPN personalities handle 'normal' games and studio updates.
EA Sports College Football 25 Released
The highly anticipated EA Sports College Football 25 game is released, featuring Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler as primary commentators, marking the franchise's return after an 11-year hiatus. (General knowledge of release date)
Herbstreit Continues Role in College Football 26
Kirk Herbstreit continues his role as a commentator in the second iteration of the relaunched series, EA Sports College Football 26, further solidifying his presence in the game.
Herbstreit's ESPN Contract Nears Expiration
Reports indicate Kirk Herbstreit's contract with ESPN, including his 'College GameDay' role, is set to expire after the 2026 season, highlighting his busy schedule across multiple major broadcasting commitments.
Herbstreit Enters Contract Year with ESPN and Amazon
Front Office Sports confirms that Kirk Herbstreit's contracts with both ESPN and Amazon Prime Video are up after the 2026-27 football season, emphasizing his grueling travel and workload.
Reports Emerge: Herbstreit Leaves EA Sports College Football 27
Multiple sports media outlets, citing On3, report that Kirk Herbstreit will not be appearing in the upcoming EA Sports College Football 27, marking his departure from the game after two editions.
EA Sports College Football 27 Early Access Begins
Early access for EA Sports College Football 27 is scheduled to begin, with the full game release shortly after, notably without Kirk Herbstreit's commentary.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The journey of Kirk Herbstreit's involvement with the EA Sports College Football series is intertwined with the game's own tumultuous history and highly anticipated return. After the original NCAA Football series went on hiatus following the 2013 edition due to legal challenges surrounding player likeness rights, Herbstreit, who had been a commentator in previous iterations, was a vocal advocate for its return.
When EA Sports announced the revival of the college football video game franchise, rebranded as EA Sports College Football, excitement among fans and media personalities, including Herbstreit, was palpable. In February 2024, it was officially confirmed that Kirk Herbstreit, along with his long-time ESPN broadcast partner Chris Fowler, would be the lead commentary team for EA Sports College Football 25, which launched in the summer of 2024. This announcement was met with widespread approval, as their voices are synonymous with college football broadcasts, particularly ESPN's 'College GameDay' and ABC's 'Saturday Night Football'. Herbstreit himself expressed enthusiasm, noting his 14th year in that role across the franchise's history.
Their involvement was crucial in establishing the authentic feel of the relaunched game, which also featured multiple broadcast teams depending on the 'magnitude' of the game being played. Herbstreit and Fowler were specifically slated to call the biggest games of the week and the College Football Playoff matchups. Herbstreit dedicated significant time to recording lines for the game, acknowledging the tedious but rewarding work involved in creating a dynamic commentary experience.
Herbstreit continued his role in the subsequent release, EA Sports College Football 26, in 2025. His presence in both the '25 and '26 editions proved popular with fans, who had grown accustomed to his commentary. However, a significant development occurred on June 2, 2026, when multiple reports, citing On3, revealed that Kirk Herbstreit would not be appearing in EA Sports College Football 27, scheduled for a July 2026 release.
The exact reasons for his departure from the 2027 edition have not been officially detailed by EA Sports or Herbstreit himself as of June 3, 2026. However, it's widely known that Herbstreit maintains an incredibly demanding schedule, balancing his roles on ESPN's 'College GameDay', ABC's college football game of the week, and Amazon Prime Video's 'Thursday Night Football' for the NFL. He has openly discussed the grueling travel and workload associated with these commitments, with his contracts for both ESPN and Amazon set to expire after the 2026-27 football season. While he has expressed a desire to continue all three roles, the intense schedule could be a contributing factor to stepping away from the video game franchise. Fans have reacted with disappointment to the news, highlighting the void his absence will create, and it remains to be seen who EA Sports will tap to replace him in the 'Big Game' broadcast booth.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Kirk Herbstreit made different choices?