Tonight–Monday night–the Tigers and Crimson Tide will face off at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona at 7:30 central. As they have done for past national championship games, ESPN is giving fans multiple options for their viewing of the championship game.
On ESPN, the primary telecast of the game will be called by Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, the usual primetime announce team. Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi will be covering the Clemson and Alabama sidelines, respectively. When the situations might arise, rules expert Dave Cutaia and medical expert Dr. Jerry Punch will provide their analysis. For those unable to view the game, ESPN Radio will feature Mike Tirico and Todd Blackledge handling play-by-play and color commentary. Holly Rowe will be the radio sideline reporter for the Tide, and Joe Schad will be on the Tiger sideline. ESPN Deportes will have the Spanish language call for the game.
One of the most popular broadcast options since ESPN began the “Megacast” has been the film room, where ESPN color analysts break down the game as it happens with other active FBS coaches. This year, analysts Brian Griese and Chris Spielman will be joined by Florida’s Jim McElwain, North Carolina’s Larry Fedora, South Carolina’s Will Muschamp, Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi, and South Florida’s Willie Taggart. The film room will air on ESPN2.
On ESPNU will be the new “Homers Telecast”, where play by play man Joe Tessitore will be joined by former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd and former Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones. ESPN funnyman Kenny
Mayne will be on the sidelines for the Homers telecast. On ESPNEWS, a group of ESPN personalities, such as Michelle Beadle, Marcellus Wiley, and Jay Bilas, will be giving their analysis is an informal setting.
ESPN Classic will be offering the “Sounds of the Game”, where the game will be broadcast without any commentary. More than 100 microphones will amplify sound from the field and stands and the public address announcer will be the only amplified voice. The halftime performances of both marching bands will be shown on this broadcast as well.
On the SEC Network will be the “Finebaum Film Room” broadcast. Paul Finebaum will be joined by SEC Network analysts Greg McElroy and Booger McFarland and Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, as well as by his always entertaining callers throughout the game. On ESPN Goal Line will be the “Command Center” broadcast, which will include a full-time, split-screen application showing the live game action, replays of every play, isolate camera feeds of both head coaches, enhanced statistics, and the ESPN Radio broadcast.
Beyond the traditional broadcast, ESPN3, ESPN’s online streaming service, will offer both the Alabama and Clemson radio calls synced with the video, Pylon Cam, a view from the endzone pylons, a live feed of both schools’ student sections, Spider Cam from above, a mock replay booth, and a data center with statistics and selected social media posts.
With these 14 different options, no matter whether you are Roll Tide or Go Tigers or just a fan of college football, you have numerous options to enjoy what should be a great national championship game.
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