Ohio State football alumnus Kirk Herbstreit breaks down during the broadcast after the Buckeyes won the national title
Emotions were high for everyone who had their team in the game college football national championship on Monday night, even on the ESPN team.
Kirk Herbstreit, who played college football at Ohio State as a quarterback from 1989-1993, couldn’t contain his emotions after watching his Buckeyes win the school’s ninth national title, this time over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The Buckeyes’ 34-23 victory prompted Herbstreit to reflect on this resilient group that continued its dominant playoff run after a tough loss to the rival Michigan Wolverines.
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Kirk Herbstreit speaks to the media during the 2025 CFP National Championship Media Day at the Georgia World Convention Center, Building A. (Kirby Lee-Imagn images)
As Herbstreit explained overcoming adversity alongside his play-by-play colleague Chris Fowler, tears began to well up in his eyes and he couldn’t hold them back.
“Oh, don’t get me started, man,” Herbstreit, who grew up about an hour away from Ohio State in Centerville, told ESPN colleague Scott Van Pelt during the postgame show. “I’m a little emotional. I’m really fired up for these guys.
“When I call these games, I’m incredibly objective. You know, I love all these Ohio State teams, but this team because of what they’ve been through to get to this point, you’re just happy.”
OHIO STATE HOLDS OFF NOTRE DAME TO WIN NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
When the cameras returned to the broadcast booth, Herbstreit was seen grabbing a handkerchief from the camera to wipe away tears as Fowler continued to speak.
Fans know very well how it feels when their favorite teams win a championship, because it sometimes brings tears to their eyes. The same applies to former school students.
Herbstreit played football for the Buckeyes after being the school’s first player to commit after hiring John Cooper as head coach in 1988. Herbstreit was Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year as a graduate of Centerville High School.
Analyst Kirk Herbstreit tosses a football with fans on the taping of ESPN’s College Game Day at the University of Texas ahead of the Longhorns’ game against the Georgia Bulldogs in Austin, Texas on Oct. 19, 2024. (Sara Diggins/American-Statesman/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
He didn’t get any real action until his junior season, when he was used sparingly in 11 games. However, Herbstreit was the starter his entire senior season, when he threw for 1,904 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions in 11 games.
In addition, while Herbstreit discussed the adversity this team has gone through this season, he also dealt with some personal adversity through a major loss in his life.
Herbstreit’s beloved golden retriever, Ben, who was a constant presence on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” was laid off after a battle with cancer.
“This is really hard to write, but you loved and cared so much for Ben that I wanted to tell you. Today we found out that the cancer had spread to Ben’s organs and there was nothing more we could do – we had to let him go,” Herbstreit wrote. in November.
On the first “College Gameday” after the tough decision to shut down Ben, Herbstreit couldn’t even speak as he was overcome with emotion as he discussed his beloved running mate.
Ben’s brother, Peter, has been along for the ride with Herbstreit as he continues to travel the country with one of his dogs by his side.
ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit before the college football CFP National Championship game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Imagn images)
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There have been ups and downs for Herbstreit this season of college football, and she ended it with tears of joy.
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