College football analysts like Kirk Herbstreit and Joel Klatt often share their opinions on the evolving sport, but an unexpected voice emerged during this year’s College Football Playoff. ESPN announcer Sean McDonough questioned whether Indiana deserved its at-large bid after being decisively defeated by Notre Dame. With the Hoosiers down four scores late in the first Playoff weekend, McDonough labeled the game a “dud,” foreseeing that there would be “a lot of discussion” about Indiana’s worthiness despite their 11-win season.
Now it appears that McDonough wishes he could retract those words. The seasoned college football announcer, who called the national championship game on ESPN Radio this week, inadvertently fueled the criticism surrounding the 12-team Playoff that escalated quickly. In a recent feature with media reporter Bryan Curtis at The Ringer, McDonough expressed regret over his comments, claiming they were misconstrued. “I felt bad that it became kind of skewed that I said they don’t belong,” he explained. “Because I didn’t say that. I do believe they belonged. What I said was, because they didn’t play well and the game was so one-sided, that I do think it was going to spur on debate. Which maybe I started.”
“To be honest, this game’s been a little bit of a dud. I don’t think anybody would deny that. Disappointing; I think most of us thought it would be a more competitive game… There will be a lot of analysis going forward about whether Indiana was worthy of this.” – Sean McDonough pic.twitter.com/DcEET7oCUC
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 21, 2024
Despite the backlash, McDonough inadvertently predicted the debate surrounding Indiana and other lower seeds like SMU and Tennessee, and his forecast proved accurate as Herbstreit and Klatt waged their own battles all winter. At ESPN, which broadcasts the entire Playoff, commentators from Shannon Sharpe to Rece Davis got caught up in the seeding debate. However, McDonough’s remarks heightened the scrutiny during the broadcast. Following an exhilarating Playoff, many have begun to revise their criticisms. As noted by many, early blowouts are a common occurrence in the NFL playoffs and NCAA basketball tournaments. Once those games were out of the way, historic programs and star players thrived, ultimately making the Playoff a success.
Hopefully, commentators like McDonough will choose to exercise more patience in their analysis during the next season.
