In his Sunday night column for SI.com, media reporter Richard Deitsch unveiled ESPN’s talent assignments for the upcoming College Football Playoff semifinals, some of which was previously announced. (For the uninitiated, this year’s semifinals are on New Year’s Eve. Yes, it will be odd for everyone.)
Allstate Sugar Bowl (No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Clemson, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Broadcasters: Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter)
Radio: Bill Rosinski (play-by-play), David Norrie (analyst), Joe Schad (reporter)
Studio: Rece Davis (host), Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, David Pollack, Joey Galloway, Butch Davis, George Whitfield (analysts), Gene Wojciechowski (reporter)
Team reporters: Samantha Ponder (Oklahoma), Marty Smith (Clemson)
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 Alabama, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Broadcasters: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Heather Cox
Radio: Brad Sham (play-by-play), Danny Kanell (analyst), Ian Fitzsimmons (reporter)
Studio: Adnan Virk, Joe Tessitore (hosts), Kirk Herbstreit, Mack Brown, Mark May, Danny Kanell, Tim Tebow (analysts)
Team reporters: Kaylee Hartung (Alabama), Tom Rinaldi (Michigan State)
The broadcasting crews for the rest of the New Year’s Six games break down as follows:
Peach Bowl, Houston vs. Florida State (noon ET, Dec. 31): Dave Pasch, Brian Griese, Tom Luginbill
Fiesta Bowl, Notre Dame vs. Ohio State (1 p.m. ET, Jan. 1): Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, Todd McShay
Rose Bowl, Stanford vs. Iowa (5 p.m. ET, Jan. 1): Brent Musberger, Jesse Palmer, Maria Taylor
Sugar Bowl, Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma State (8 p.m. ET, Jan. 1): Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Shannon Spake
ESPN will host a New Year’s Day edition of College GameDay live from the Rose Bowl. Deitsch reported ratings were slightly up (1.961 million vs. 1.859 million) in Davis’s first year taking over for Fowler.
