ESPN’s Herbstreit to call Sugar Bowl from home after coronavirus diagnosis

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit on Tuesday announced that he will be working from home on Friday during the Sugar Bowl after receiving a COVID-19 diagnosis this week. 

Herbstreit, a regular on ESPN’s “College GameDay” program, wrote in a statement shared on Twitter late Tuesday that he had tested positive for the virus “earlier this week” and that he and his family feel fine.

“Thankfully I feel good & my family is okay, but going through the protocols that will keep me home,” he wrote, adding that he will make appearances from home for both Friday morning’s “College GameDay” as well as for live coverage of the Sugar Bowl between No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Ohio State. 

The teams, who also faced off in the 2019 semifinal that Clemson won, will play at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans starting at 8 p.m. EST. 

Herbstreit has worked at ESPN since 1996 and was previously an Ohio State quarterback from 1989 to 1992. His father, Jim, also played at Ohio State, although his sons, Tye and Jake, both play for Clemson. 

Kirk Herbstreit’s diagnosis comes as ESPN/ABC analyst Greg McElroy, who was scheduled to call Wednesday’s Cotton Bowl between No. 7 Oklahoma and No. 10 Florida, also announced on Twitter Tuesday night that he had tested positive for COVID-19. 

“I’m disappointed, but I feel good and hope to be back soon,” McElroy wrote in a tweet. “Family is healthy and I’m bouncing back. Look forward to making a full recovery and seeing everyone ASAP.” 

The Cotton Bowl, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is scheduled for kickoff at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday. 

The college football bowl games will continue into the weekend, with the national championship scheduled for Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.