If Thursday night’s thrilling finish between No. 10 Miami and No. 6 Ole Miss is any indication, then Friday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal between top-ranked Indiana and No. 5 Oregon should be a barnburner.
ESPN has been the recipient of solid viewing audiences during the College Football Playoff itself. The network probably has some high expectations, too, for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which takes place on Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and, yes, the game will be shown on ESPN, too.
Who Are the Oregon vs. Indiana Announcers?
While ESPN’s top college football announcing team of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, and Laura Rutledge was on hand for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night, the network is sending its No. 2 team to Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
When viewers tune into the game, they’ll hear veteran ESPN college football announcer Sean McDonough calling the play-by-play. Beside McDonough will be his usual in-game analyst, Greg McElroy. What about the sidelines? ESPN’s Molly McGrath and Katie George will provide in-game updates.
OREGON. INDIANA.
Only one more spot remains in the CFP national championship — who ya got? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/lDJn0n4nfi
— ESPN (@espn) January 9, 2026
Whoever wins between Indiana and Oregon, those teams know that they will face the Hurricanes, who won a thrilling 31-27 game over the Rebels at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Thursday night.
McDonough happens to be the son of longtime Boston Globe columnist Will McDonough. Besides college football games, McDonough is also the No. 1 play-by-play voice for NHL games carried by ABC and ESPN. He’s also a top play-by-play voice for “ACC Big Monday” games, too.
Outside of working for CBS between 1996 and 99, McDonough has been with ESPN since 1989.
As for McElroy, college football fans, especially those of the Alabama Crimson Tide, are quite familiar with him. McElroy ran the Alabama offense as its quarterback between 2007 and 11, leading the Crimson Tide to victory in the 2010 BCS National Championships. He also helped Alabama win the SEC Football Championship in 2009.
He joined ESPN in 2014 as an analyst for the SEC Network. But he’s established himself as a quality in-game analyst alongside McDonough for their games.
McGrath joined ESPN back in July 2016, but got her start as a production assistant at ESPN in 2011. She also spent time as a sideline reporter and host for college sports and NFL games with Fox Sports.
George usually works college football games as the sideline reporter for ESPN’s broadcast team of Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer. George is a former Louisville volleyball player who also contributes to ESPN telecasts of the UFL, Premier Lacrosse, and the NBA.
worst commentators ever. I mean really, really awful.