Former Southeastern Conference official Matt Austin, who spent nearly two decades in the profession officiating games across three conferences before retiring earlier this year, has joined ESPN and SEC Network as an Officiating Analyst for college football. He will contribute weekly to SEC games and studio shows from SEC Network’s studios in Charlotte, providing analysis to go along with the network’s robust college football programming.

“Gaining clarity of the rules has become a vital part of the viewing experience,” said ESPN senior vice president of production Lee Fitting. “With that understanding, and in working with the SEC and their commitment to transparency in officiating, we looked to enhance and evolve that aspect of our telecasts. Matt Austin is one of the most respected on-field officials in the game, and we look forward to him serving viewers with the same knowledge and passion he utilized throughout his officiating career. He makes us better in this newly-created role.”

Austin was a referee for 15 years in the SEC and four years in the Ohio Valley Conference, in addition to spending four seasons as an official in the Mid-South Conference (NAIA). He worked a dozen postseason officiating assignments over his career, including three SEC Championship Games and two College Football Playoff semifinals. Off the field, Austin is a corporate industry manager for Sumitomo Drive Technologies.