2026 College Football on Fox Announcers

Fox Sports’ lead college football crew of Gus Johnson (play-by-play) (L) and Joel Klatt (analyst) (R). (MGoBlog)

| ⏵ Friday, August 28, 2026

🟄 Highlights:

• “BIG NOON KICKOFF” sets the table for Saturday’s slate of matchups with a cast featuring Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram II, Matt Leinart, Urban Meyer, Chris “The Bear” Fallica, among others.

• Respected commentators Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft return for their 10th season together leading Fox Sports’ on-air commentary teams.

• Connor Onion gets promoted to No. 2 team, working with Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III and Alexa Landestoy.

With Fox’s 2026 college football schedule to kick off this weekend, our friends at Fox Sports released their complete on-air broadcast roster for their college football coverage for the upcoming 2026 college football season. Their roster features National Champions, Emmy Award recipients, Hall of Famers, Heisman Trophy winners, and several noteworthy on-air voices.

Each Saturday, Fox will show viewers across the country must-see games from college campuses around the country, with a two-hour BIG NOON KICKOFF pregame show at 10:00 AM ET followed by BIG NOON SATURDAY at 12:00 PM ET.

FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL FRIDAY is back on Fox’s docket for the third consecutive year, including defending national champion and No. 6 Indiana’s Big Ten opener vs. Northwestern, and defending Big 12 champion No. 12 Texas Tech vs. No. 23 Houston, and Penn State vs. Northwestern for the debut of the new Ryan Field.

Start Saturday Strong:

BIG NOON KICKOFF will make its return this fall, featuring one of college football’s most esteemed and recognizable ensembles. Veteran host Rob Stone will reunite with Notre Dame icon Brady Quinn, Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, the three-time national championship-winning coach Urban Meyer, and Heisman Trophy winner and 2026 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Mark Ingram II. Additionally, Dave Portnoy will join the lineup throughout the season, bringing his distinctive voice, vibrant energy, and unique perspective to the show.

Sports wagering expert Chris “The Bear” Fallica brings his renowned insights and analyses back to the forefront. At the same time,17-time Emmy Award winner Tom Rinaldi captivates audiences with compelling interviews and features that illuminate the biggest stories and personalities in college football. Joining the lineup, FOX Sports lead analyst Joel Klatt, four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski, Super Bowl champion and Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, and reporter Jenny Taft contribute regularly throughout the season, providing additional insights, commentary, and perspectives from some of the sport’s most significant stages.

The show will travel to various locations each Saturday, kicking off with an exciting premiere on Saturday, September 5 in Bloomington, Indiana, as the Indiana Hoosiers embark on their title defense against North Texas. The following week, on Saturday, September 12, BIG NOON KICKOFF will journey to Ann Arbor for a highly anticipated rematch between two of college football’s storied programs: No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 16 Michigan.

In Week 3, FOX Sports will make history by hosting BIG NOON KICKOFF’s first-ever international stop, traveling to London’s Wembley Stadium for the Union Jack Classic, where Kansas will face off against Arizona State in the first FBS game ever played in England. Pregame coverage will commence at 10:00 AM ET on Saturday, September 19 on FOX, followed by the game at 12:00 PM ET on FS1.

Throughout the season, BIG NOON KICKOFF will also feature appearances from various Barstool Sports personalities, including Dan “Big Cat” Katz. Additionally, the BARSTOOL COLLEGE FOOTBALL SHOW will return alongside BIG NOON KICKOFF for select games, airing from 9:00 to 9:45 AM ET across Barstool-owned channels and FOX platforms, including Tubi and FOX One.

Big Noon Saturday:

Each week, live game coverage begins on Saturday afternoons at 12:00 PM ET with BIG NOON SATURDAY, Fox Sports’ marquee college football for the week. Fox Sports’ lead CFB crew once again consists of Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft. They reunite for their 10th season as the lead crew, with Johnson and Klatt entering their 12th year as broadcast partners.

They start their season on Saturday, September 5, as the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers host North Texas at 12:00 PM ET on Fox.

2026 College Football Coverage on Fox and FS1:

Connor Onion, Robert Griffin III, Alexa Landestoy

Play-by-play announcer Connor Onion teams up with analyst, Heisman Trophy winner, NFL Pro Bowler, and Offensive Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III and reporter Alexa Landestoy to commentate on some of the biggest matchups in college football. Their year begins on Friday, September 4 as No. 14 USC hosts Fresno State at 9:00 PM ET in the season debut of FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL FRIDAY.

Tim Brando, Devin Gardner, Josh Sims

Longtime sports commentator Tim Brando starts his third season alongside former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner and reporter Josh Sims. They will open with a Week 0 game as Memphis visits UCLA on Saturday, August 29 at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT on Fox. The next week, the three go to Cincinnati to watch Boston College face the Bearcats on Saturday, September 5 at 3:30 PM ET on Fox.

Jack Kizer, Mark Helfrich

Former Oregon head coach and Pac-12 champion Mark Helfrich calls the Week 1 Marshall-Penn State game alongside new play-by-play commentator Jack Kizer on Saturday, September 5 at 3:30 PM ET on FS1.

Eric Collins, Spencer Tillman

Play-by-play commentator Eric Collins once again works with former Oklahoma star Spencer Tillman. In Week 1, Collins and Tillman work the Ohio-Nebraska contest on Saturday, September 5 at 12:00 PM ET/11:00 AM CT on FS1.

Dan Hellie, Robert Smith

This season, play-by-play announcer Dan Hellie joins former Ohio State running back Robert Smith to call games. In Week 1, they will be on the call for Abilene Christian vs. Texas Tech on Saturday, September 5 at 7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CT on FS1.

Noah Reed/Carlo Jimenéz (or various play-by-play announcers), Petros Papadakis

Former USC football captain Petros Papadakis returns as a game analyst for college football in 2026. During Week 1, Papadakis teams up with two different play-by-play announcers. On Friday, September 4, Papadakis is in the booth for Toledo vs. Michigan State at 8:00 PM ET on FS1 with play-by-play announcer Noah Reed. Then on Saturday, September 5, Papadakis joins play-by-play commentator Carlo Jimenéz for Central Michigan vs. New Mexico at 10:00 PM ET/8:00 PM MT on FS1.

Additional Fox Sports’ Studio Coverage:

Veteran host Mike Hill anchors FOX Sports’ college football studio coverage from Los Angeles, expertly managing the operations amid the excitement. He collaborates with Fox Sports college football insider Bruce Feldman and Chris Petersen, the former University of Washington head coach and 2026 College Football Hall of Fame inductee. Additionally, Clay Travis will make special appearances on BIG NOON KICKOFF, reporting live from some of the most significant games in the South.

College Football on Fox: 2026 On-Air Talent Roster

Game Crews:

1. Gus Johnson/Joel Klatt//Jenny Taft

2. Connor Onion/Robert Griffin III//Alexa Landestoy

3. Tim Brando/Devin Gardner//Josh Sims

4. Jack Kizer/Mark Helfrich

5. Eric Collins/Spencer Tillman

6. Dan Hellie/Robert Smith

7. Noah Reed (Week 1) or Carlo Jimenéz (Week 1)/Petros Papadakis

Studio Crews:

Big Noon Kickoff (Fox): Rob Stone, Mark Ingram II, Matt Leinart, Urban Meyer, Brady Quinn, Chris “The Bear” Fallica (on-site at college campuses each week)

Studio (Pregame/Halftime/Postgame/Studio Wraps) (FS1 and/or Fox): Mike Hill, Bruce Feldman, Chris Petersen (Los Angeles)

For more information about the 2026 Fox College Football schedule, please click here. For more information about the 2026 FS1 College Football schedule, please click here.

|| ⏵ 🛈 Sources: Fox Sports Press Pass ⏴ ||

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