ESPN is making a major change to its afternoon lineup with the launch of Big Day with Peter Schrager, a new daily studio show premiering September 10, 2026.
The show will take over the 2 p.m. ET time slot after The Pat McAfee Show, replacing SportsCenter in that window. The move gives Schrager an even bigger role at ESPN after joining the network in 2025.
While several of Schrager’s colleagues and supporters celebrated the new opportunity, NFL fans on social media had mixed feelings about ESPN’s programming decision.
Peter Schrager’s New Show Gets NFL Fans Talking
Big Day with Peter Schrager will air Monday through Thursday during the college football season, with Fridays featuring Bussin’ with Pate, hosted by Josh Pate, Taylor Lewan, and Will Compton.
Once the college football season ends, Schrager’s show will expand to five days a week.
Each one-hour episode will feature two to three rotating panelists, including reporters, former players, and celebrity sports fans. The show will focus heavily on the NFL while also covering other major sports stories.
The announcement quickly sparked debate online. Some viewers welcomed Schrager as a change of pace after McAfee’s loud and energetic style, while others questioned whether the new show would be able to attract and retain viewers.
One fan appeared happy about the change, writing, “Yay! Not (Pat) McAfee!”
Yay! Not McAfee!
— Shital Shah (@cincylaw) September 2, 2026
Another viewer was far less impressed with the announcement, saying, “He’s one of the most boring [expletive] on the ESPN roster, no chance this doesn’t get cancelled after the NFL season is over.”
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
The criticism continued, with one commenter taking aim at both Schrager and ESPN, writing, “ESPN is the worst. Schrager is the most inauthentic of all the [expletive] in your barnyard.”
Another fan simply wrote, “Can’t wait to miss that.”
Not everyone was negative, though. Former NFL player and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky congratulated Schrager, writing, “Congrats to Peter!”
Congrats to Peter!
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) September 2, 2026
Jay Sick also backed the move, saying, “He deserves it.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
ESPN Betting on Schrager’s NFL Experience
Schrager joined ESPN in 2025 after a long run with NFL Network’s Good Morning Football and FOX Sports.
Since joining the network, he has become a regular presence on Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, and The Pat McAfee Show. He also hosts The Schrager Hour podcast with Omaha Productions.
Now, ESPN is giving Schrager his own daily platform and betting on his NFL connections, insider knowledge, and relaxed interview style to attract viewers.
The timing is also significant, with ESPN preparing for what it has dubbed its “Year of the Super Bowl.” Whether Schrager can turn the afternoon slot into a consistent draw remains to be seen, but the early reaction suggests fans will have plenty to say once the show gets underway.
