- Alyssa Lang makes her ESPN college football studio wraps debut
- Jordan Rodgers joins Kevin Negandhi and Booger McFarland on the ABC halftime desk as the duo enters their seventh season together
- Kevin Connors hosts College Football Final for the first time, closing out each Saturday alongside EJ Manuel and Joey Galloway
With the 2026-27 college football season approaching, ESPN has set its studio wraps lineup for the fall across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. From the first game’s kickoff through the final whistle on Saturdays, a deep roster of anchors and analysts will guide fans through every week of college football action.
Lang and Acho Join Connors and Manuel Across Thursday and Friday Wraps
Kevin Connors anchors the Thursday edition of ESPN’s college football studio wraps, joined by analysts Sam Acho and EJ Manuel. Connors, a versatile ESPN anchor whose assignments span SportsCenter, college football and basketball wraps and Major League Baseball, brings steady leadership to the primetime desk. Manuel, who made the move from ACC Network to ESPN’s Saturday lineup last season, expands his weeknight presence this fall. Acho, a former NFL linebacker turned ESPN analyst, rounds out the Thursday crew with perspective earned on both sides of the ball.
On Fridays, Alyssa Lang steps into her first college football studio wraps assignment on ESPN, joining Manuel and Acho. Lang, who has built a strong reputation as one of ESPN’s most dynamic college sports reporters and contributors, takes on her new studio role after spending the previous eight college football seasons as a sideline reporter for SEC Network. In addition to her work on ESPN and SECN college basketball and softball, Lang has also added the NBA to her ESPN reporting responsibilities, as well as hosting live studio for ESPN from the Men’s College World Series. She will continue regular hosting appearances on SEC Now throughout the year.
Negandhi and McFarland Enter Year Seven on ABC; Rodgers Joins the Desk
Kevin Negandhi and Booger McFarland are back together for their seventh season wrapping up Saturday action on ABC, once again serving as the halftime studio team for ABC, as well as ESPN’s Saturday primetime windows. Negandhi has anchored ABC’s college football studio coverage since 2019 and also co-hosts the 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter among a wide range of ESPN assignments. McFarland continues to contribute across ESPN platforms, with appearances on Get Up, SportsCenter, NFL PrimeTime and more. Joining the duo this season is Jordan Rodgers, who brings quarterback experience and sharp game analysis to the ABC halftime desk — a strong complement to one of the most established studio pairings in college football. Rodgers spent the past six seasons as an analyst on SEC Nation and just wrapped up a decade-long stint as the booth analyst on SEC Saturday Night on SEC Network. He will also have the call on ESPN Friday night games throughout the fall alongside Mike Monaco and Dana Boyle.
Connors, Lang, Manuel, and Galloway Set for Saturday E1/E2 Coverage
On Saturdays, ESPN’s studio crews will feature a rotating combination of Connors, Lang, Manuel, and Joey Galloway — sharing assignments across the two windows week to week. Galloway, a longtime ESPN analyst and former NFL standout, contributes insight to marquee college football programming throughout the season.
Connors Hosts College Football Final for the First Time
Capping each Saturday, Connors takes the helm of College Football Final for the first time, joined by Manuel and Galloway to break down the full day in college football. The trio will close out ESPN’s Saturday studio coverage and deliver the definitive wrap on each week’s action throughout the fall.
College Football Countdown Airs Saturday, Aug. 29
A week 0 edition of College Football Countdown will air live on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN. Kevin Negandhiwill host alongside Greg McElroy, Jesse Palmer, Booger McFarland and Pete Thamel, leading directly into the 2026 Aer Lingus Football Classic between TCU and UNC.
-30-
Media contacts:
Courtney Clawson – Courtney.Clawson@espn.com; @CourtClawESPN
Amanda Brooks – Amanda.D.Brooks@espn.com; @BrooksAD