Over the past 30 years, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit has become a part of every football fan’s life as one of the longest tenured hosts of ESPN College GameDay. Herbstreit has become one of the faces of the sport, one of the faces of ESPN, and an example of how to have success in broadcasting. The beloved host, however, has gone out of his way to single out some of his colleagues for how they go about covering sports.

Kirk Herbstreit has done whatever he can throughout his career to ensure that no one can claim he was biased against their team. When the College GameDay crew makes their weekly picks, Herbstreit removes himself for any games he’s covering this way no one can claim he’s rooting for his pick. While Herbstreit played for Ohio State, the Buckeyes fanbase constantly calls him out for “throwing away his Ohio State fandom”.

While Kirk Herbstreit isn’t biased while covering the games, he feels that some of his teammates aren’t following the right path. Kirk Herbstreit appeared on Net Positive with John Crist, where he declared that objectivity in sports media isn’t dead, but with certain personalities, it’s a part of who they are and what they do.

“If you’re a personality like a Bill Simmons or Pat McAfee or like a Stephen A. Smith, part of their schtick is kind of that. Even on [College] Gameday, Pat is all about West Virginia. He’s always talking. I would never do that about Ohio State. Ever. That’s why a lot of Ohio State fans probably don’t care for me, because I treat them like every other team.”

Kirk Herbstreit

Seeing Kirk Herbstreit single out two of his ESPN teammates in Pat McAfee and Stephen A Smith, is surprising considering he’s not confrontational. After calling out McAfee and Stephen A Smith, Herbstreit put another one of his ESPN colleagues on blast, bringing up SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan’s Georgia fandom.

“I don’t think you can cheer when you do games on a national level, guys that are in a studio show nationally, like when you watch SportsCenter and Elle Duncan is sitting there cheering for Georgia openly. I’m not a fan of that personally, like it hurts your credibility when that team is playing other teams. And then fans are looking at you like, you know”

Kirk Herbstreit

After getting singled out by Kirk Herbstreit, Elle Duncan took to Twitter/X to defend herself.

For Kirk Herbstreit to go out of his way and call out three of his current teammates at ESPN, the issue has to be one that bothers him a ton, as he’s never malicious. While his way of expressing his point may not have been the best way, Herbstreit is right that it turns a ton of fans away when the broadcaster is clearly pulling for the other team. Most fans likely don’t care either way but, the crowd that would be upset about a fan in the booth would be far more bothered than if no fandom was shown.

In the case of Elle Duncan, she likely only saw the quote where she was put on blast as Kirk Herbstreit called out two of his coworkers as well. In her case, it is much different when someone is on a show like SportsCenter comparing games and a bit more acceptable to outwardly talk about your team as the opposing fanbase isn’t tuned into a broadcast to hear analysis about the game just to feel as if the broadcast is rooting against them.

This offseason has been filled with drama surrounding College GameDay, with this storyline and the story of Pat McAfee’s war with behind the scenes staff members on the show, which makes it an interesting season to follow the show.

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Man, this recruitment is nuts. The back and forth, the analyst buzz, the speculation, the prognostications. It’s all over the place.

On Saturday night, though, we’ll have a little clarity. At least for now. Calvin Russell lll, a long-time Syracuse football priority target, is expected to announce his college decision around 9 pm.

That being said, even if the Orange’s name isn’t called on Saturday evening, amid Russell’s birthday party, I’d wager that head coach Fran Brown and his top-flight staff will continue to pursue the elite 2026 five-star wide receiver and top-25 national prospect.

Russell, per a graphic for his birthday party and commitment announcement, has whittled down his list to Syracuse football, Oregon, Florida State and Michigan. I’ve been told that at this juncture, his recruitment likely boils down to the Orange and the Wolverines.

The latest piece from top expert Steve Wiltfong, who is vice president of national college football recruiting and the transfer portal at On3/Rivals, reads: “Source: ‘My gut says Michigan’ for five-star target.”

Take it for what it’s worth, my friends.

Syracuse football will know where it stands with 5-star WR Calvin Russell lll.

When I wrote this article, I didn’t see any analyst predictions for Russell on 247Sports. There’s one projection in Michigan’s direction for him via On3/Rivals, but it’s not from Wiltfong.

Coming off his recent official visit to the Wolverines, before the dead period in college football recruiting hit, Michigan appeared to pick up a lot of steam with Russell, who won a state title as a junior at Northwestern Senior High School, an excellent program that the ‘Cuse staff recruits extremely hard these days.

Russell, who wants to play hoops in college as well, holds a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball, too. My take is this: Brown has likely forged the strongest relationship with Russell, and basically the entire Orange staff is recruiting him hard.

On the flip side, while I’ve heard that Syracuse’s NIL is competitive for Russell, to think that the Orange could outbid Michigan is unrealistic. Also, while the ‘Cuse was 10-3 a season ago, Michigan plays in the Big Ten Conference, one of the top two leagues for college football along with the Southeastern Conference.

Two terms ago, the Wolverines won a national championship. So one could argue, reasonably, that Russell would be playing on a bigger stage at Michigan than on the Hill.

If I hear any more chatter throughout the day, I’ll share. We’ll, of course, have coverage, too, following Russell’s announcement.

It’s no secret that popular ESPN college football analyst is not a fan of Ohio State football. And on the Fourth of July, he added a new chapter to his ongoing vendetta. With a bold claim about the defending national champions’ playoff chances.

“I don’t like Ohio State,” Finebaum said on a special Fourth of July edition of ESPN’s Get Up [h/t On3]. “I think Ohio State is going to lose in the opener against Texas. And they are going to struggle to make the Playoffs, let alone win it all.”

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While it certainly seems like sour grapes from a long-time Buckeyes detractor, especially after winning a national title earlier this year, Ohio State lost a record 14 players in the NFL Draft in April. Including Quinshon Judkins and Josh Simmons. So, coach Ryan Day will have to try to defend the throne with a very different group in 2025.

Also Read:: Highest-paid college football coaches 2025: Kirby Smart, Bill Belichick among top CFB coach salaries

Yet, that wasn’t the only shot Finebaum took at OSU. After being asked about comments from star receiver Ryan Williams on how the loss to Michigan motivated their title run, the long-time ESPN analyst suggested Ohio State’s losing streak to hated rivals the Wolverines may not end in 2025.

“I’m glad to see someone on the Ohio State lineup maybe do something more than just mouthing words,” Finebaum said. “Ryan Day has promised that for every loss to not lose again and he continues to lose again. But they are the defending National Champions, so even clowns like me on the fourth of July are not going to call for a firing of a coach because he loses one game.

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“However, that is a game he has to deal with at some point. But that National Championship will pay a lot of bills and probably, yes, another loss to Michigan.”

The Buckeyes have lost four straight to the Wolverines, dating back to 2021.

Also Read:: Highest paid college football players 2025: Top NIL valuations right now

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One of the biggest issues facing last year’s release was the actual in-game play. Blocking was unrealistic, interceptions and pass defenses, accuracy and timing shortcomings, and defensive pursuit were all frequently mention in reviews of the release as major flaws.

According the official website of this year’s release, it is something developers have addressed.

“Enhanced AI, dynamic play-calling adjustments, improved blocking and coverages plus new features like Dynamic Substitutions and custom zones give you more control on both sides of the ball, so you can show your opponent what your program is made of.”

The game has also introduced new player types and abilities so that gamers can create the perfect recruit to help lead their team to a College Football Playoff victory amid increased popularity in creation suites.

As part of the Road to Glory feature, they can take their player on the complete journey, from earning their scholarship, through the recruitment period, and onto the roster, where they can continuously track his progression.

The developers also promise a more authentic coaching experience that allows players to compete against and try to outsmart Ryan Day, Marcus Freeman, James Franklin, and other elite college head coaches as part of the game’s Dynasty Mode.

There, players will have access to a trophy room, where they can showcase their accomplishments and help utilize it to encourage those in the transfer portal. They can track player progression, manage and recruit their roster, and set themselves up for a chance at the top prize in the sport.

While intent and execution are two different things, it appears as though EA Games has put in the effort to make the changes and improvements to what plagued fans’ experience with last year’s game.

We will find out starting Monday if those changes were effective or not.

Click here for a deeper dive into the many new gameplay features in this year’s release.

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic discussed NBA-Euroleague relations, NIL’s impact, coaching pressures, and his philanthropic efforts. He emphasized mutual respect between leagues and staying grounded amid basketball’s evolving global landscape.

The heartbeat of European basketball echoed through Athens once again as the Euroleague Coaches Congress returned to Greece for the second consecutive summer.

Free throws this season

Held at the OAKA indoor arena, the high-level basketball seminar brought together some of Europe’s finest coaching minds for four days of knowledge sharing and networking.

Among the elite speakers was Serbian coach Darko Rajakovic , head coach of the Toronto Raptors. Having carved out a notable path in the NBA, Rajakovic returned to the Euroleague event to engage in meaningful discussions about the game’s evolution, coaching philosophies, and the future of basketball both in North America and Europe. During his visit, he was also officially welcomed as a member of the Euroleague Head Coaches Board (EHCB).

Euroleague vs. NBA: Bridging Two Worlds

Rajakovic is one of the rare coaches to have deep roots in both European and American basketball.

While praising the NBA as the most elite league in terms of talent and resources, he believes the Euroleague deserves more respect.

“There’s still a big gap in mutual understanding between the two,” he told Athletiko’s Chirstos Tsaltas and Thanasis Asproulias. “Europe has great players, incredible coaches, and passionate fans. We all have a lot to learn from each other.”

By bringing his assistant coaches with him to the Congress, Rajakovic emphasized the importance of exchanging ideas and perspectives. “If someone in the audience learns even one new detail that enhances their coaching philosophy, it’s worth it.”

The Ujiri Shock and the Raptors’ Rebuild

For Rajakovic, it was a jolt. “Masai is an amazing human and leader. He gave me this opportunity. His exit was shocking, but I understand this business. Everything runs in cycles.”

Despite the leadership change, Rajakovic remains optimistic. “We have a great young core, and strong support from ownership and the front office. We’re positioned for success.”

The State of European Basketball: Identity Crisis?

Asked about the increasing pace and game load in Europe, Rajakovic drew a sharp comparison. “Europe seems to be trying to copy the NBA model—faster pace, more games—but that’s not necessarily better.” He expressed concern about Europe’s failure to integrate young talent: “That’s the biggest issue. Young players rarely get chances in a league of veterans.”

The Coaching Game: No Job Is Safe

Coaching in the NBA means living on the edge. “There are two types of coaches,” Rajakovic quipped. “Those who have been fired and those who will be fired. If you want security, get a job at the post office.”

He emphasized that longevity comes from alignment and patience within an organization. “The most successful franchises maintain continuity and understand their goals.”

Despite working in a league often dominated by media speculation and trade rumors, Rajakovic chooses to block out the noise. “I don’t use social media. I don’t read the news. I focus on what I can control.”

The NIL Effect: Europe vs. NCAA

The emergence of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rights in the NCAA has opened new doors for young athletes—and new challenges for European basketball. More top prospects are now opting to play college basketball in the U.S., chasing both development and commercial opportunities.

Rajakovic sees this as a game-changer. “Talents are increasingly leaving Europe earlier. It’s reshaping the global basketball market.”

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