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If you think the 2026 college football TV schedule resides only on major networks like ESPN and FOX, you are mistaken. This season, The CW Network will broadcast 140 hours of regular-season college football beginning Saturday, August 29, with New Mexico at Florida State. CW coverage will run the gamut of conferences, including the ACC, Mountain West and Pac-12.
The CW has compiled an impressive roster of broadcasters for the 2026 season. Thom Brennaman will handle play-by-play for ACC football with Jason Cabinda as an analyst and Wes Bryant on the sidelines. For Mountain West football, Jack McMullen will handle play-by-play alongside Cody Kessler. They will work with Marshall Newhouse as a sideline reporter.
Pac-12 games feature Rick Allen as the lead play-by-play announcer. With Will Blackmon as a booth analyst and Michael Bumpus working the sidelines. Other members of the broadcast lineup working various Mountain West and Pac-12 games include play-by-play announcer Chris Fisher, analyst Isaiah Stanback and sideline reporter Brian Walters.
This is indeed a unique mix of talent. Lesser-known personalities alongside veterans like Brennaman. In addition, with major college football dominated by the SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and ACC, it will be nice to see coverage of games in the competitive Mountain West and the Pac-12. A conference that has lost some of its luster but still offers some strong programs.
Setting The Table
The CW’s college football games will be preceded by The CW College Football Countdown . The network’s pregame show hosted by Mike Yam alongside lead analyst George Wrighster.
Yam is fast becoming sports television’s version of Ryan Seacrest. The dude is seemingly everywhere. One minute, he is suited and tied at an anchor desk talking football on NFL Network. The next, he’s dressed casually in an easy chair talking hoops on NBA TV.
Forget Seacrest, Yam is the studio host version of ESPN/ABC play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough. His versatility in moving from sport to sport is outstanding. As an observer who appreciates the craft and art of hosting, I’m excited to watch Yam work CW college football.
While he has made his name covering professional sports most recently, Yam is no stranger to the college game.
Before making his mark at NFL Network, he served as a lead studio host for Pac-12 Network football and basketball for nearly a decade. Yam always brings his A-game to any assignment. His face and voice will be the first that viewers see and hear on CW college football coverage this year.
That’s a good thing for the network.
Fresh Faces, Notable Names
The 140 hours of coverage on The CW this year is the most in the history of the network. There is no doubt that Brennaman is the figurehead and face of the broadcast lineup. Once the top baseball play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports, Brennaman has seen the positive and perilous sides of sports broadcasting. He, of course, was mentored by his dad, Marty Brennaman, the legendary Cincinnati Reds play-by-play announcer.
I’m curious to see how Cabinda and Brennaman work together in the booth. He has done some fine studio work for CBS Sports HQ GameDay Recap . Also, he’s done broadcasting work for his alma mater, Penn State.
Similar to Brennaman, McMullen is a baseball guy, having served as the radio play-by-play voice of the Miami Marlins. His booth partner, Cody Kessler, has an impressive broadcasting resume, including NFL Network, TCU football and the Las Vegas Raiders. Kessler is a USC guy and, like fellow Trojan QB and FOX college football analyst Matt Leinart, is unfazed by the spotlight with that LA/Hollywood pedigree.
I see Kessler further evolving in his work at The CW this fall and moving up the ladder as a college football analyst.
Another CW personality I’m really looking forward to watching is Will Blackmon. He put together a terrific 12-year NFL career as a cornerback, safety and punt/kick returner, and won a Super Bowl with the Giants. The Boston College Hall of Famer also called CW Sports ACC games in 2025. I like the personality, intelligence and defensive mentality that he brings to the broadcast booth.
One thing you can say about The CW college football broadcast team is that they are quite versatile. All of the play-by-play announcers have experience in sports other than football. They may not be household names, but that could change this fall with some decent games and teams across The CW schedule.
Fisher has been the Oklahoma City Thunder play-by-play announcer for the past few seasons. He has also done basketball work for FS1, Big Ten Network, FOX Sports West, Pac-12 Network and Time Warner Cable.
If you’re looking for a CW color analyst who brings hardware and pedigree to the table, look no further than Stanback. He’s a four-time Emmy Award winner as a color commentator for Dallas Cowboys’ preseason broadcasts.
Stanback is the nephew of former Atlanta Falcons running back Haskel Stanback. He also works for the Seattle Seahawks Radio Network and has deep ties in Washington state as a former quarterback at the University of Washington.
More Ways To Watch
CW Sports may not be ESPN, but the two networks have forged a new streaming agreement bringing CW Sports live events to the ESPN app. The partnership includes coverage of WWE, NASCAR and college football.
Let’s keep it real here: CW Sports is not going to feature games pitting traditional powers like Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia or Texas against each other. However, just looking at the 2026 college football schedule, they do have some interesting matchups.
Some that will make my viewing calendar include the opener with New Mexico State at Florida State on August 29. Also, the September 9 twin bill with Stanford at Duke and James Madison at San Diego State. Miami hosts Central Michigan on September 26. Washington State is at Utah State on October 9. Then the next day, perennial power North Dakota State, now in the M...
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