When EA Sports unveils the full athlete lineup for College Football 27 on June 4, one familiar Ohio voice will be missing.
Kirk Herbstreit, Ohio native, former Ohio State quarterback, longtime ESPN broadcaster and “College GameDay” host, helped give recent versions of the game an authentic broadcast feel alongside ESPN colleagues such as Chris Fowler, Rece Davis and Jesse Palmer. But ESPN’s lead college football analyst will not appear in this year’s game, according to a USA TODAY report. He had returned to the franchise when it rebooted in 2024.
Kirk Herbstreit will not voice College Football 27
Herbstreit served as the game’s in‑booth analyst in the last two editions, paired with Chris Fowler. Long regarded as the “voice of college football,” he’s said to have helped replicate the feel of a real ESPN broadcast for players.
The reason for his absence has not been made public, and Herbstreit has not issued a statement.
Kirk Herbstreit’s ties to Ohio, Ohio State
Herbstreit, a Centerville native, has deep ties to the Buckeye State.
Herbstreit played quarterback at Ohio State from 1989 to 1993, was a team captain and MVP, and graduated from the university in 1992, according to ESPN. His father, Jim Herbstreit, was also an Ohio State captain and later coached there, making Kirk part of a Buckeye family legacy.
Who is on the cover of College Football 27?
Malachi Toney, Dante Moore and Kewan Lacy will grace the cover, according to EA SPORTS.
When will the game be released?
College Football 27 is expected to release in mid-July 2026, with reporting pointing to a standard release date of July 10, 2026, according to MaddenTurf.
EA Sports executives say the game will better reflect the modern era of college football, with deeper authenticity for players. “College Football 27 promises to be an incredible year, one in which we’re able to start reflecting the modern era of college football more authentically and with more depth for our players than ever before,” EA Sports’ Evan Dexter, VP of Franchise Strategy and Marketing said in a news release announcing the cover athletes.
More details of College Football 27 will be unveiled Thursday, June 4 on the EA Madden NFL YouTube channel, but fans won’t hear Herbstreit’s voice this year.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Ohio State QB Kirk Herbstreit missing from College Football 27
