Former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit has already established himself as a prominent analyst in the nation. Alongside legendary former Alabama coach Nick Saban, he now serves as one of the central figures in ESPN’s college football and NFL draft coverage.
Kirk Herbstreit on Nick Saban’s Mindset on College GameDay
In an interview on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Herbstreit opened up about what it has been like working alongside Saban on College GameDay. When asked whether he feels comfortable disagreeing with Saban on-air, Herbstreit said that it is not an issue at all, as Saban is receptive to feedback.
“He’s cool with it,” Herbstreit said. “And this is the greatest thing about Nick Saban. I’ve known him since he was the head coach at Michigan State. So, I’ve known him for almost 20-25 years. When he first came onto game day, it just stood out to me. He’s Nick Saban, right? We’ll get done with a segment, and he’ll turn to me because I’m sitting right next to him. He’ll look over me.
“He’s like, ‘Was that okay?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, man. Yeah, that was good.’ He wants to be coached like he’s a player. Like he’s like, ‘Don’t just tell me what I want to hear. I want to get better at this.’ Like, he really has an appreciation for not just being, like, ‘I’m Nick Saban, and that’s enough,’ but really understanding studio television and how I can be better. So, I love that about him because he doesn’t have to do that; he’s Nick Saban. But he wants to really try to study the craft and get good at it.”
Saban joined the College GameDay crew full-time for the 2024 season and has continued to be a central presence. He and Herbstreit spent the last few days co-anchoring College GameDay’s draft coverage.
Saban revealed his All-Defense team of prospects, which featured Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese. He was also seen providing emotional and professional endorsements for former Alabama players like Ty Simpson, who finished last season with an 85.4 score in the PFSN College Football QB Impact Metric. Simpson was selected 13th overall by the Los Angeles Rams.
Meanwhile, Herbstreit facilitated discussions with guest coaches like Ohio State’s Ryan Day, who playfully trolled Saban during the broadcast regarding the development of Downs.
Both Saban and Herbstreit are now set to return to the GameDay desk for the 2026 college football season. This is part of the “Year of the Super Bowl” initiative, marking the first time in history that ESPN will host the championship game.
