ESPN is pulling out all the stops for the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T. They’re bringing fans over 24 hours of live studio programming from Miami.
This coverage will stretch across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network, ESPN YouTube, ESPN Facebook, and the ESPN App. For football fans, it’s shaping up to be quite the spectacle.
From the season finale of College GameDay to special features and exclusive interviews, ESPN’s aiming for an experience that digs deep into the stories and personalities behind this year’s championship clash.
Comprehensive Studio Coverage from Miami
ESPN’s coverage comes straight from Hard Rock Stadium, kicking off with College GameDay‘s season finale at 5 p.m. ET. Rece Davis will host, joined by Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban, plus guest analyst and Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
The on-air crew also includes reporters Jen Lada and Jess Sims. College football insider Pete Thamel and betting analyst ‘Stanford Steve’ Coughlin round out the team.
Key Highlights of College GameDay Coverage
Several features will be part of the College GameDay coverage:
- I’M COMING HOME: Fernando Mendoza, who grew up in Miami, is now competing for a national championship against Miami’s head coach Mario Cristobal.
- IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ‘U’: Exploring the legacy and resurgence of the Miami Hurricanes, with legends like Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis, and Jeremy Shockey.
- COACHES CONVERSATION: Pat McAfee chats with Miami’s Mario Cristobal and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti on the eve of the big game.
- THE IMPROBABILITY OF INDIANA: Jeremy Schaap takes a look at the underdog story of Curt Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers.
- HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: Ryan McGee discusses how Miami’s history and proximity shape the championship matchup.
Additional Featured Content Across ESPN Studio Shows
ESPN’s studio shows will roll out a variety of special segments:
- COACH CIG: Jen Lada interviews Indiana coach Curt Cignetti about the program’s turnaround and his championship prep.
- MADE IN MIAMI: Andrea Adelson tells the story of Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, his roots in the city, and his journey back to the Hurricanes.
- HOME COOGAN: Jen Lada profiles Pat Coogan, who moved from Notre Dame to Indiana and now anchors their offense.
- CARSON CITY: Marty Smith sits down with Miami quarterback Carson Beck to talk about his season and the championship ahead.
- FIESTA TIME! An all-access look at Miami’s wild win over Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl, which punched their ticket to the championship.
The Pat McAfee Show Live from Hard Rock Stadium
On Championship Monday, The Pat McAfee Show goes live from Hard Rock Stadium from noon-2 p.m. on ESPN, YouTube, and the ESPN App. The final hour will air exclusively on the ESPN App and YouTube.
McAfee will be joined by AJ Hawk, Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit, Tone Digs, Darius Butler, and Evan Fox, plus a handful of guests.
ACC Network’s Extensive On-Site Programming
The ACC Network will dive deep into Miami Hurricanes coverage throughout the weekend. Programming includes:
- ACC Huddle: Miami Media Day on Saturday
- Head Coaches News Conference on Sunday
- ACC Huddle: Championship Preview on Sunday evening
- Inside ACCess at the National Championship on Monday
- ACC Huddle at the National Championship on Monday evening
- Field Pass with ACC Huddle alternate game telecast on Monday night
- ACC Huddle Final Score following the game
ESPN Digital and Social Media Coverage
ESPN’s digital platforms will be buzzing too. Countdown to the CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T goes live from the field at Hard Rock Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN YouTube, Facebook, and the ESPN App.
Christine Williamson, Harry Douglas, and Harry Lyles Jr. will host, with updates from Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath, and analysis from EJ Manuel.
After the game, The Wrap-Up: CFP National Championship Presented by Mercedes-Benz will break it all down with hosts Sam Ravech, Matt Simms, and Skubie Mageza on ESPN YouTube, Facebook, and the ESPN App.
Good Morning America and SportsCenter
ABC’s Good Morning America will provide updates from Miami throughout the weekend. Victor Oquendo will report from Hard Rock Stadium on Friday, while Lara Spencer will be live on Championship Monday and the day after.
Robin Roberts will anchor the show live from the field on Tuesday morning, joined by the winning team’s stars and spirit squads.
SportsCenter will air multiple editions from Miami with live updates starting Saturday. Matt Barrie will host the 6 p.m. Sunday and 5 p.m. Monday editions, while Kevin Negandhi anchors the 6 p.m. Monday show leading into kickoff.
Scott Van Pelt will handle post-championship festivities on ESPN after the trophy presentation.
First Take and Championship Drive
A special Championship Monday edition of First Take will feature a stacked panel: Stephen A. Smith, Shae Cornette, Cam Newton, Ryan Clark, Tim Tebow, and Desmond Howard, plus Indiana alum Mark Cuban as a special guest.
The show will also go live from Miami on Tuesday after the game.
Path to the College Football Playoff Presented by AT&T will air several times, taking viewers behind the scenes with hosts Matt Barrie, Joey Galloway, and Greg McElroy.
Championship Drive will break down the matchup, with analysis from Kevin Negandhi, Matt Barrie, EJ Manuel, Dusty Dvoracek, Roddy Jones, Booger McFarland, Tim Tebow, Joey Galloway, and Sam Acho.
Inside the College Football Playoff on ESPN+
ESPN+ is keeping its Inside the College Football Playoff series rolling, giving fans a rare, behind-the-scenes peek at the top teams as they chase the championship. Episode 4 drops January 14 and will dive into the CFP Semifinal action.
Then, Episode 5 arrives January 23 with a new look at the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T. Expect some surprises, and maybe a few moments you didn’t catch the first time around.
Want the full rundown on ESPN’s coverage? Check out the official press release.
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