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- Analysts Joey Galloway and Emmanuel Acho Return to Studio Coverage
Matt Barrie and Kevin Connors will assume new roles during college football’s 150th anniversary season, as Barrie will anchor ESPN’s studio coverage and Connors will undertake the same role on ESPN2. Further solidifying both studio teams, ESPN has re-signed analysts Jesse Palmer and Jim Mora to new contracts, with Palmer teaming up with fellow analyst Joey Galloway on ESPN and Mora reuniting with Emmanuel Acho on ESPN2.
For Barrie, Galloway and Palmer, in addition to their traditional Saturday studio wraps, the new team will also work on the network’s Thursday and Friday football coverage throughout the season. On Saturdays, the trio will cap their days with College Football Final, as the one-hour show highlights the day that was in college football at the conclusion of the night’s games.
Barrie Expands College Football Role
Barrie’s new position is a shift from his previous presence on ESPN’s college football coverage, as the Arizona State alum had anchored SportsCenter’s Saturday morning shows throughout the college football season since 2015. A number of these shows, which all lead into College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, were onsite from the sport’s biggest games, including Alabama at Mississippi State when the Bulldogs were No. 1 in 2014, and Louisville at Clemson featuring the showdown between Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson in 2016. Barrie also hosted ESPN Radio’s College GameDay show during the 2014 season. In addition to his college football studio work, Barrie will continue to anchor SportsCenter on weekdays, a role he has served since he joined the company in 2013.
Jesse Palmer and Joey Galloway Remain Analysts on ESPN’s Prominent Studio Programming
Palmer has been with ESPN since 2007, occupying multiple significant roles, including game analyst on ABC, ESPN, and SEC Network before shifting to a more permanent studio position. As part of his new agreement, the former Florida quarterback will continue to appear as an analyst on ESPN’s prominent college football programming throughout the season.
Galloway enters his ninth season with ESPN. Along with Palmer, the former Ohio State Buckeye has become a staple of the network’s studio coverage, also appearing regularly on College Football Playoff: Top 25 and the College Football Playoff Selection Show.
Connors and Mora Increase Presence
Connors’ new role adds college football to his existing portfolio of studio assignments, which includes regular editions of SportsCenter, college basketball wraps throughout the winter and a variety of MLB on ESPN hosting assignments throughout the season. The Ithaca alum has also called college basketball play-by-play for the network. Connors fills the role of Chris Cotter, who assumed a new play-by-play position with ACC Network.
Mora’s new deal begins his second season with the network, as he joined ESPN after more than 30 years in coaching. The veteran football mind will continue to appear on the network’s college football-centric programming, including Sunday editions of Who’s In? and special studio shows surrounding the College Football Playoff. This season, he expands his role to include game analyst, appearing on select Friday night telecasts with Dave Flemming and Paul Carcaterra.
Acho Becomes Staple on CFB Saturdays
Acho is entering his second season of Saturdays with ESPN2 after the former Texas standout transitioned from Longhorn Network last season. Like Mora, Acho will be utilized on a number of shows throughout the year, including College Football Live.
Previous Announcement: ESPN Signs Mark Sanchez, Joins ABC Studio Team with Jonathan Vilma and Kevin Negandhi
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Media contact: Derek Volner at 860-384-9986; [email protected] and @DerekVolner
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