The Official 2025 CFP Game Kirk Herbstreit Is Calling This Saturday Weekend (Plus His Full Schedule)

As of Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the college football world is fixated on the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) structure, and the answer to "what game is Kirk Herbstreit calling Saturday" is slightly nuanced. While the biggest game for the top broadcast team is actually scheduled for Friday night, the entire weekend is dedicated to the CFP First Round, and Herbstreit is front and center for the highest-profile matchup of the opening slate.

The veteran ESPN analyst, alongside his long-time play-by-play partner Chris Fowler, is set to call the highly anticipated CFP First Round battle between the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. This prime-time contest serves as the kickoff to the weekend's elimination games, which culminates in a Saturday tripleheader.

Kirk Herbstreit: Biography and Broadcast Profile

To understand the magnitude of Kirk Herbstreit's assignment, it helps to know his pedigree. Herbstreit is one of the most recognizable and influential voices in American sports broadcasting, known for his insightful analysis and passionate delivery.

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• Full Name: Kirk Edward Herbstreit
• Born: August 19, 1969 (Age 56 as of 2025)
• Hometown: Centerville, Ohio
• Alma Mater: The Ohio State University (OSU)
• Playing Career: Quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1989 to 1993, serving as captain his senior year and winning the team MVP award.
• Primary Roles: College Football Analyst for ESPN/ABC and Color Analyst for Amazon's Thursday Night Football (TNF).
• Key Broadcast Teams:
  • CFB: Chris Fowler (Play-by-Play) and himself (Analyst).
  • TNF: Al Michaels (Play-by-Play) and himself (Analyst).
• Key Shows: Long-time fixture on ESPN's College GameDay, alongside Desmond Howard, Rece Davis, and Pat McAfee.
• Awards: Multiple Sports Emmy Awards for his work.

Herbstreit's commitment to both college football and the NFL, particularly his high-profile role on Thursday Night Football with Al Michaels, makes his schedule one of the busiest in sports media. However, his most significant work remains the College Football Playoff, where he and Chris Fowler consistently call the National Championship Game.

The Weekend's Marquee Matchup: Herbstreit's CFP Assignment

While the user specifically asked for Saturday, the most important game of the weekend for the top ESPN crew is the Friday night matchup. The shift to a 12-team CFP format means the First Round is spread across Friday and Saturday, with the top four seeds receiving a crucial bye week.

The game Kirk Herbstreit is calling is:

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CFP First Round: No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners

• Date: Friday, December 19, 2025
• Time: 8:00 PM ET
• Network: ABC & ESPN
• Broadcast Team: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, and Laura Rutledge.

This matchup is a classic SEC (soon-to-be SEC for Oklahoma) showdown, featuring two powerhouse programs with rich traditions. The winner earns the right to advance to the Quarterfinals, where they will face one of the top four seeds. The intensity of an elimination game, combined with the star power of the Alabama and Oklahoma programs, makes this the perfect assignment for ESPN's A-team. This game, played in Norman, Oklahoma, is expected to be a highly competitive battle, setting the tone for the entire CFP weekend.

The Full College Football Playoff First Round Schedule for Saturday, December 20, 2025

The Saturday schedule is a jam-packed tripleheader, ensuring non-stop college football action from noon until late evening. While Herbstreit and Fowler will not be calling these games, they are critical parts of the overall CFP First Round bracket.

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The three games on Saturday, December 20, 2025, are:

Noon ET Game: No. 10 Miami Hurricanes at No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies

• Time: 12:00 PM ET
• Network: ABC/ESPN
• Broadcast Team: Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy.
• Context: This matchup features two programs with massive fan bases and high expectations. The game, likely played at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, will be the first of the Saturday slate. The winner moves on to the Quarterfinals. The presence of former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy on the call adds an extra layer of SEC insight to the broadcast.

3:30 PM ET Game: TBD Matchup

• Time: 3:30 PM ET
• Network: ESPN
• Context: This mid-afternoon slot is reserved for another high-stakes elimination game. The teams involved will be determined by the final CFP rankings, often featuring a Group of Five conference champion or another highly ranked at-large team.

7:30 PM ET Game: TBD Matchup

• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• Network: ESPN/ABC
• Context: The nightcap of the CFP First Round tripleheader often features the most dramatic potential upset. This game will wrap up the First Round and finalize the eight teams advancing to the Quarterfinals, which are traditionally played on New Year's Day, including the historic Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl.

Understanding Herbstreit's role requires looking beyond just Saturday. His primary commitment is to the most important game of the weekend, which, in this case, falls on Friday. However, his analysis and commentary from the Alabama vs. Oklahoma game will undoubtedly frame the discussion for all the Saturday matchups and the path to the National Championship.

The Dual-Role Dynamic: Herbstreit's Significance to Football

Kirk Herbstreit's value to ESPN and Amazon is immense, largely due to his ability to seamlessly transition between college and professional football. His analysis on College GameDay every Saturday morning sets the national conversation for the day's games, offering predictions and deep-dive breakdowns. This show is a cultural institution for college football fans, and Herbstreit is a central figure.

His work on Thursday Night Football (TNF) with legendary announcer Al Michaels provides a fresh perspective for NFL fans. This dual role keeps him constantly current on both levels of the sport, further enhancing his topical authority when discussing players transitioning from the college ranks to the NFL. This unique position allows him to provide unparalleled insight into the prospects playing in the CFP First Round games, including the talent on both the Alabama and Oklahoma rosters.

In summary, while Kirk Herbstreit won't be in the booth for the Saturday, December 20, 2025, CFP tripleheader, he will have already delivered the call for the weekend's most anticipated First Round game on Friday night. Fans seeking his voice on Saturday should tune into College GameDay for the final time this season before the Quarterfinal round begins.