Kirk Herbstreit’s Most Iconic Calls in College Football History
There’s something special about hearing Kirk Herbstreit call a college football game. The energy. The insight. The feel of the moment. Whether it’s a top-five clash under the lights or a playoff thriller that decides a title shot, Herbie’s been the voice riding shotgun through some of the sport’s most unforgettable moments.
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As a former Ohio State quarterback turned longtime analyst, Herbstreit brings passion and poise to the booth. And when the stakes are high? He delivers. You don’t just watch the game—you feel it.
So, we’re throwing flags, breaking huddles, and counting down The 10 Most Iconic Games Ever Called by Kirk Herbstreit. From Rose Bowl classics to playoff shockers, these are the matchups that made Herbstreit’s voice part of college football history.
10. 2019 Fiesta Bowl – Clemson vs. Ohio State
Two heavyweights. Two future NFL quarterbacks. One game that left fans speechless—and furious.
Justin Fields vs. Trevor Lawrence was the headline, but the real story was the drama. A targeting ejection. A fumble overturned. A game-sealing interception in the red zone. Every moment was amplified, every call dissected, and every snap carried playoff consequences.
Herbstreit was in the booth, and his tone matched the tension. He called the controversial moments with clarity, poise, and the kind of insight only a guy who’s been there can provide.
This wasn’t just a semifinal—it was a chess match with chaos baked in.
No. 3 Clemson edges No. 2 Ohio State 29–23 in a thriller that still sparks debates to this day.
9. 2023 CFP Semifinal – Michigan vs. TCU
It started with doubt. It ended in disbelief.
No. 2 Michigan entered the semifinal unbeaten, physical, and full of expectation. But TCU never flinched. They forced turnovers, played with tempo, and capitalized on every mistake. A pair of pick-sixes. Explosive runs. Timely stops.
Herbstreit kept pace with the chaos—breaking down coverages, praising execution, and letting the drama breathe. It wasn’t just about the upset. It was about how the moment never felt too big for Max Duggan and the Horned Frogs.
In a game where every possession felt like a momentum swing, Herbstreit gave the call the weight it deserved.
No. 3 TCU stuns No. 2 Michigan 51–45 in a College Football Playoff shocker.
8. 2021 Michigan vs. Ohio State – Snow Bowl
The snow didn’t just fall — it set the stage.
No. 2 Ohio State came in rolling, winners of eight straight in The Game. But Michigan played different that day. They owned the trenches, leaned on a dominant run game, and brought the kind of edge Harbaugh had been chasing for years.
Hassan Haskins ran through contact. The defense brought pressure with purpose. And the Wolverines made it clear: this wasn’t a fluke. It was a statement.
From the booth, Kirk Herbstreit captured the shift. He highlighted Michigan’s discipline, their physical identity, and the emotional weight of the moment. He didn’t overhype it — he let the performance speak for itself.
No. 5 Michigan knocks off No. 2 Ohio State 42–27 in a snow-soaked showdown that snapped the streak and shook the Big Ten.
7. 2014 Iron Bowl – Alabama vs. Auburn
Points came fast. Adjustments came faster.
No. 1 Alabama and No. 15 Auburn delivered a shootout that tested every phase of the game. Amari Cooper was unstoppable, torching the Tigers for 224 yards and three scores. Blake Sims rebounded from early turnovers. And Auburn? They piled up over 600 total yards, refusing to fade under the lights in Tuscaloosa.
This wasn’t just a rivalry game. It was a track meet with playoff-level intensity.
Kirk Herbstreit stayed dialed in—tracking tempo, praising explosive execution, and pointing out how both teams used pace and spacing to stretch each other thin. He let the action breathe, but when it was time to explain the why, he was all over it.
No. 1 Alabama outguns No. 15 Auburn 55–44 in a high-octane Iron Bowl that rewrote the record books.
6. 2017 Rose Bowl – USC vs. Penn State
It wasn’t just a bowl game. It was a heavyweight fight in Pasadena.
No. 9 USC and No. 5 Penn State put on a show with traceable momentum swings and relentless offense. Sam Darnold threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns. Saquon Barkley delivered one of the most jaw-dropping runs in Rose Bowl history. The score kept flipping, the crowd never sat down, and the tension built with every possession.
If That Rose Bowl still give you chills? Then you’ll love The Penn State Football Stadium Experience — where the crowd, the chants, and the whiteout take over.
Kirk Herbstreit broke it all down—Darnold’s poise, Penn State’s tempo, the subtle adjustments on both sidelines. He brought focus to the moments within the moment—a missed block, a perfectly timed blitz, a clutch third-down throw.
And when USC pulled off the comeback with a last-second field goal, Herbie let the moment breathe—balanced, respectful, and completely dialed in.
No. 9 USC edges No. 5 Penn State 52–49 in a Rose Bowl that delivered on every level.
5. 2005 USC vs. Notre Dame – The Bush Push
Two blue bloods. One legendary play.
No. 1 USC and No. 9 Notre Dame met under the lights in South Bend with everything on the line—unbeaten streaks, title hopes, and legacies. It was a back-and-forth battle. Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and Dwayne Jarrett made plays. The Irish answered behind Brady Quinn and a defense that rose to the moment.
Then came the final drive.
Herbstreit kept his voice steady, building the moment snap by snap. When Leinart surged forward—and Bush gave that now-infamous push—Herbie didn’t scream. He explained. The mechanics, the rulebook, the moment. His tone gave weight to the history unfolding live.
It was chaotic. Controversial. Unforgettable.
No. 1 USC escapes No. 9 Notre Dame 34–31 in one of the most debated finishes in college football history.
4. 2018 CFP National Championship – Alabama vs. Georgia
A true national title classic—with a finish made for the history books.
No. 3 Georgia controlled the first half with a smothering defense and steady play from Jake Fromm. But Nick Saban made the bold move at halftime—turning to freshman Tua Tagovailoa to save the season. The result? One of the most iconic quarterback debuts ever.
Kirk Herbstreit guided the moment perfectly. He explained Saban’s decision, broke down the defensive coverages, and spotlighted how Georgia’s front seven began to wear down. And when Tua hit DeVonta Smith in overtime for the walk-off score, Herbie delivered it with awe and precision—equal parts analyst and fan of the game.
This was more than a comeback. It was a coronation for Alabama’s next chapter.
No. 4 Alabama stuns No. 3 Georgia 26–23 in overtime to win the national title.
3. 2006 Rose Bowl – Texas vs. USC
The buildup was massive. The game lived up to every second of the hype.
No. 2 Texas and No. 1 USC brought undefeated records, Heisman winners, and rosters packed with legends. Vince Young vs. Matt Leinart. Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Michael Huff—everywhere you looked, there were future NFL stars.
Herbstreit called it with complete command. He highlighted Vince Young’s vision, the battle in the trenches, and how momentum swung like a pendulum. When the fourth quarter turned into a shootout, Herbie didn’t overreact—he broke it down, snap by snap.
And when Young crossed the goal line on 4th and 5 with :19 seconds left, Kirk Herbstreit’s voice rose—but always stayed measured. He let the play speak for itself.
This wasn’t just a national championship. It was the greatest college football game ever played.
No. 2 Texas takes down No. 1 USC 41–38 in a Rose Bowl for the ages.
2. 2022 CFP Peach Bowl – Georgia vs. Ohio State
Everything about it felt like a title game—the stakes, the tempo, the talent on both sidelines.
No. 1 Georgia came in undefeated, defending champs with a chip on their shoulder. But C.J. Stroud and No. 4 Ohio State weren’t backing down. Stroud extended plays, picked apart coverages, and gave the Buckeyes a lead late in the fourth.
Kirk Herbstreit kept the focus on the details—Georgia’s protection breakdowns, Ohio State’s defensive rotations, and how every possession tightened the pressure. As the game tilted back and forth, Herbie’s tone never got ahead of the action. He let the magnitude breathe.
Then came the final drive. Stetson Bennett found answers, the Bulldogs regained the lead, and the nation held its breath as Ohio State lined up for a game-winning kick.
The ball dropped wide left as the clock struck midnight.
No. 1 Georgia survives No. 4 Ohio State 42–41 in a New Year’s Eve semifinal thriller for the ages.
1. 2013 Iron Bowl – Auburn vs. Alabama (“Kick Six”)
It was already a thriller. And then it became a moment frozen in college football history.
No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Auburn played with urgency from the opening snap. T.J. Yeldon moved the chains. Nick Marshall responded with poise. The lead changed hands. The intensity never let up. And with the game tied and one second left, Alabama lined up for a 57-yard field goal.
Kirk Herbstreit was all over the situation—the kicking unit, the wind, the return man deep in the end zone. His tone tightened as Chris Davis fielded the miss, and what followed needed no embellishment. Just clarity.
109 yards later, the stadium was shaking, the rivalry had a new chapter, and Herbie let the shock and awe carry the moment.
He didn’t oversell it. He didn’t have to.
No. 4 Auburn stuns No. 1 Alabama 34–28 on a walk-off return that rewrote college football history.
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