Kirk Herbstreit, an Ohio State football student, breaks down during the broadcast after the Buckeyes win the national title.
Emotions were high for everyone whose team played in the College Football National Championship on Monday night, even on ESPN’s broadcast team.
Kirk Herbstreit, who played his college football at Ohio State from 1989-93 as a quarterback, couldn’t contain his emotions after watching the Buckeyes win the school’s ninth national title, this time over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The 34-23 victory allowed Herbstreit of the Buckeyes to reflect on this tough team that went into the playoffs following a tough loss to the rival Michigan Wolverines.
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Kirk Herbstreit at the 2025 CFP National Championship Media Day at the Georgia World Congress Center Building A. (Images by Kirby Lee-Imag)
When Herbstreit described overcoming adversity next to play-by-play partner Chris Fowler, tears began to well up in his eyes, and he couldn’t hold it back.
“Oh, don’t get me started,” Herbstreit, who grew up about an hour away from Ohio State’s Centerville, told ESPN’s Scott Van Pel during the postgame show. “I’m a little emotional. I’m just fired for these guys.
“I’m incredibly objective when I call these games. You know, I love all these Ohio State teams, but you’re happy because of what this team went through to get to this point.”
Ohio State eliminated Notre Dame to win the College Football National Championship.
As the cameras cut to the broadcast booth, Herbstreit is seen picking up a handkerchief from the camera to wipe away tears as Fowler continues to speak.
Fans know how it feels when their favorite teams win championships, as they shed tears over it. The same goes for alumni in schools.
Herbstreit played football for the Buckeyes after becoming the school’s first player since John Cooper was hired as head coach in 1988. Herbstreit was the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Centerville High School.
Analyst Kirk Herbstreit throws the football to fans during ESPN’s College Game Day event at the University of Texas before the Longhorns’ game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 19, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Sarah Diggins/American-Statesman/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
He didn’t really see action until his junior season, when he was used sparingly over 11 games. However, Herbstreit was a starter throughout his senior season as he threw for 1,904 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions in 11 games.
Additionally, Herbstreit talked about the struggles this team has faced this season, while also dealing with some personal issues with the biggest loss of his life.
Herbstreit’s beloved golden retriever, Ben, was placed on ESPN’s “College Game Day” after battling cancer.
“This is so hard to write but I wanted to let you know that so many of you love and care about Ben. Today the cancer spread throughout Ben’s body and there was nothing we could do – we had to let him go. It’s gone,” Herbstreit wrote in November.
On the first “College Game Day” after the difficult decision to send Ben down, Herbstreit can’t even speak as his emotions pour out while discussing his best friend.
Ben’s brother Peter accompanied Herbstreit as he continued to travel the country with one of his dogs at his side.
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit before the CFP National Championship college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Images by Kirby Lee-Imag)
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There have been highs and lows for Herbstreit this college football season and it will end with happy tears.
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