List of Orange Bowl broadcasters explained

Television network, play-by-play and color commentator for the Orange Bowl from 1953 to the present.

Television

ESPN televised the Orange Bowl game from 2011–2014, as part of the cable network's $500 million broadcast deal with the BCS. ESPN will continue to televise the Orange Bowl through December 31, 2025 as part of its broadcast deal with the College Football Playoff. The Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl are the only two bowl games ever to air on all the "big 4" broadcast television networks in the United States (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox).

Date	Network	Play-by-play	Color commentator(s)	Sideline reporter(s)
December 30, 2023^[1] ^[2]				Katie George
December 30, 2022			Greg McElroy
December 31, 2021		Chris Fowler^[3]		Holly Rowe and Marty Smith
January 2, 2021		Bob Wischusen^[4] ^[5]		Katie George
December 30, 2019				Todd McShay and Molly McGrath
December 29, 2018				Maria Taylor and Laura Rutledge
December 30, 2017				Todd McShay and Molly McGrath
December 30, 2016				Todd McShay
December 31, 2015				Holly Rowe
December 31, 2014				Maria Taylor
January 3, 2014
January 1, 2013
January 4, 2012				Lisa Salters
January 3, 2011				Michele Tafoya
January 5, 2010		Dick Stockton^[6]	Charles Davis^[7]	Chris Myers and Laura Okmin
January 1, 2009		Thom Brennaman^[8]		Chris Myers
January 3, 2008^[9]		Kenny Albert^[10]	Daryl Johnston and Barry Alvarez^[11]	Jeanne Zelasko
January 2, 2007		Matt Vasgersian^[12]		Laura Okmin^[13]
January 3, 2006				Erin Andrews
January 4, 2005				Lynn Swann and Todd Harris
January 1, 2004				Lynn Swann
January 2, 2003				Sam Ryan
January 2, 2002				Lynn Swann
January 3, 2001				Lynn Swann and Jack Arute
January 1, 2000				Lynn Swann
January 2, 1999				Dean Blevins
January 2, 1998		Sean McDonough^[14]	Terry Donahue^[15]
December 31, 1996				Dave Logan^[16]
January 1, 1996
January 1, 1995^[17]		Tom Hammond^[18]	Cris Collinsworth^[19]	John Dockery
January 1, 1994			Bob Trumpy^[20] ^[21]	O. J. Simpson^[22]
January 1, 1993		Don Criqui^[23]		John Dockery^[24]
January 1, 1992			Bill Walsh^[25] ^[26]
January 1, 1991^[27]				O. J. Simpson and Bob Trumpy
January 1, 1990^[28]
January 2, 1989		Don Criqui^[29]	Bob Trumpy^[30]
January 1, 1988				Tom Hammond^[31]
January 1, 1987				Paul Maguire
January 1, 1986				Jimmy Cefalo^[33]
January 1, 1985^[34]				Bill Macatee^[35] ^[36]
January 2, 1984			John Brodie^[37] ^[38]
January 1, 1983
January 1, 1982				Bob Trumpy
January 1, 1981
January 1, 1980
January 1, 1979		Dick Enberg^[39]	Merlin Olsen^[40]
January 2, 1978		Jim Simpson^[41]
January 1, 1977
January 1, 1976
January 1, 1975
January 1, 1974
January 1, 1973^[42]
January 1, 1972				Bill Enis
January 1, 1971
January 1, 1970^[43]
January 1, 1969
January 1, 1968
January 2, 1967		Curt Gowdy^[44]
January 1, 1966
January 1, 1965			Bud Wilkinson^[45] ^[46]
January 1, 1964				Jim McKay
January 1, 1963
January 1, 1962
January 2, 1961^[47]		Ray Scott^[48]
January 1, 1960		Joe Boland^[49]
January 1, 1959^[50]			Jim McKay^[51] ^[52]
January 1, 1958		Chris Schenkel^[53]
January 1, 1957		Tom Harmon^[54]
January 2, 1956^[55]
January 1, 1955		Bob Neal^[56] ^[57]
January 1, 1954		Red Barber^[58] ^[59] ^[60] ^[61]
January 1, 1953

Notes

• In 2011, ESPN televised all BCS championship games from January 2011 through January 2014. This was the most prominent sports championship not shown on broadcast television. The 2011 BCS championship was the most watched program in the history of cable television, with 27.3 million viewers in 17.7 million households.^[62]
• In 2007, ABC and Fox showed one game each on January 1, Fox then showed one game each on January 2 and 3 and came back with the championship game on January 8. A similar schedule is planned for future years.
• Starting with the 2006 season, coverage would be split between ABC and Fox. Fox paid for each bowl game US$20 million.^[63] Four of the BCS bowl games were on FOX: the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and a new fifth game, the BCS National Championship Game. ABC will continue to broadcast the Rose Bowl Game. ABC had a $300 million eight-year contract that extends to 2014 for the broadcast rights for the Rose Bowl.
  • Fox showed all BCS championship games the first three years of the contract, while in 2010 the Rose Bowl stadium was the location of the BCS Championship game, and ABC televised it.
• When the Bowl Championship Series was formed in 1998, television coverage was consolidated on the ABC Television Network. Beginning with the 2006 season, the Fox Broadcasting Company took over television coverage of the Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl games. ABC retained the Rose Bowl game under a separate contract.^[64]
  • From 1999 to 2006 (1998–2005 seasons), all games of the BCS were televised by ABC Sports. Generally, coverage consisted of two games on New Year's Day, one on January 2, and one on either January 3 or 4. ABC paid nearly $25 million per year for the broadcast rights to the Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls during that time.^[65] Overall, the contract was worth $550 million over the eight years for all the bowl games.^[66]
• During coverage of the final quarter of the 1992 game,^[67] two power feeder cables that were originating coverage into NBC's main production truck accidentally caught itself on fire, forcing all 12 cameras and all NBC stations to knock off the air with an identification slide for 18 seconds. After the video portion returned, NBC was forced to switch to a scrambled Japanese feed of the game off of JOTX, with Japanese audio for 30 seconds before silencing their audio portions with a voiceover, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are experiencing technical difficulties. Please stand by". A teletext was then shown afterwards, "Sorry for the inconvenience, we have been experiencing transmission difficulties due to atmospheric conditions". While the teletext remained on screen, NBC Sports announcers Gayle Gardner and Paul McGuire then returned back on air with an announcement before describing an action between both teams from NBC's studios in New York. 14 minutes later, Dick Enberg apologized to its viewers that a major power failure has knocked out their cameras. At that point, NBC was forced to borrow one camera from Japanese network JOTX for parts of the game.

Spanish

In 2013, ESPN Deportes will provide the first Spanish U.S. telecast of the Orange Bowl.^[68]

Radio

Date	Network	Play-by-play	Color commentator	Sideline reporters
December 30, 2023				Kayla Burton
December 30, 2022				Paul Carcaterra
December 31, 2021		Mark Jones		Quint Kessenich
January 2, 2021		Sean Kelley
December 30, 2019				Ian Fitzsimmons
December 29, 2018				Todd McShay
December 30, 2017				Rocky Boiman
December 30, 2016				Allison Williams
December 31, 2015				Joe Schad
December 31, 2014
January 3, 2014				Shannon Spake
January 1, 2013				Joe Schad
January 4, 2012				Quint Kessenich
January 3, 2011				Joe Schad
January 5, 2010				Holly Rowe
January 1, 2009				Jack Arute
January 6, 2006^[69]				Jerry Punch
January 4, 2005				Erin Andrews
January 1, 2004				Heather Cox
January 2, 2003				Holly Rowe
January 2, 2002				Michele Tafoya
January 3, 2001				Adrien Karsten
January 1, 2000^[70]				Dave Ryan
January 2, 1999
January 2, 1998			Jim Wacker
December 31, 1996			Phil Schaefer
January 1, 1996		John Rooney
January 1, 1995			Fran Curci
January 1, 1994		Harry Kalas
January 1, 1993			Jack Ham
January 1, 1992			Fran Curci
January 1, 1991			Tom Pagna
January 1, 1990			Tom Brookshier
January 2, 1989			Fran Curci
January 1, 1988			Howard Schnellenberger
January 1, 1987
January 1, 1986
January 1, 1985
January 2, 1984			Donnie Duncan
January 1, 1983
January 1, 1982
January 1, 1981
January 1, 1980			Pat Sheridan
January 1, 1979			Sam Huff
January 2, 1978
January 1, 1977		Don Criqui
January 1, 1976		Bob Ufer, Mike Treps
January 1, 1975
January 1, 1974			Sam DeLuca
January 1, 1973			Dave Kocourek
January 1, 1972
January 1, 1971
January 1, 1970			Elmer Angsman
January 1, 1969		Bill Enis
January 1, 1968			George Ratterman
January 2, 1967			Elmer Angsman
January 1, 1966			George Ratterman
January 1, 1965			Billy Vessels
January 1, 1964			George Ratterman
January 1, 1963			Sam Huff
January 1, 1962			Bill Flemming
January 2, 1961			Pat Summerall
January 1, 1960		Bill McColgan
January 1, 1959			Joe Foss
January 1, 1958			Herman Hickman
January 1, 1957		Jim Gibbons
January 2, 1956			Dan Peterson
January 1, 1955		Red Barber
January 1, 1954		Bob Neal
January 1, 1953		Jack Brickhouse
January 1, 1952			Connie Desmond
January 1, 1951		Mel Allen
January 2, 1950
January 1, 1949		Red Barber

Notes and References

1. News: McCarthy. Caroline. December 31, 2023. ESPN announcer rails 'chaos' of 'broken' college football business. The New York Post. May 16, 2024.
2. News: Dixon. Michael. December 30, 2023. What sports media said about Orange Bowl blowout. Awful Announcing. May 16, 2024.
3. News: Hofeimer. Bill. January 6, 2022. Herbie And Fowler's 11-Day Dream Run Of College, NFL Games. ESPN Front Row. May 16, 2024.
4. Book: Phillips, Timothy A.. 23 January 2023. The Orange Bowl: A Complete History. McFarland. 454. 978-1-4766-4886-6.
5. News: Walters. John. January 4, 2021. Bubble Screen: New Year's Day is a victim of ESPN's college football dominance. The New York Times. May 16, 2024.
6. News: DeVrieze. Craig . January 6, 2010. Orange Bowl tube talk. The Quad-City Times.
7. News: Kirby. Paul. May 5, 2020. Charles Davis, former New Paltz resident, joins CBS Sports as NFL analyst. Daily Freeman. May 16, 2024.
8. News: DeWitt. Burton. January 9, 2009. Fox's BCS Coverage Makes Move to ESPN Make Sense. Bleacher Report. May 16, 2024.
9. News: Powell. Brian. January 4, 2008. FOX's Orange Bowl Production By The Numbers. Awful Announcing. May 16, 2024.
10. Web site: Kenny Albert - Fox Sports Press Pass. Fox Sports Press Pass.
11. News: Powell. Brian. January 3, 2008. Bowl Season Open Thread: The Orange Bowl. Awful Announcing. May 16, 2024.
12. News: Wagner. Andrew. May 12, 2019. From Milwaukee To Mainstream: Matt Vasgersian's Broadcasting Journey Continues. Forbes. May 16, 2024.
13. News: Powell. Brian. January 10, 2007. Bowl Season Announcing Recap and Grades- NFLNet/FOX. Awful Announcing. May 16, 2024.
14. News: Hamilton. Ryly Jane. January 3, 1998. 1998 Orange Bowl LJS3. Lincoln-Journal Star. May 16, 2024.
15. News: January 3, 1998. CBS' TEAM DID WELL WITH THE GAME THEY WERE DEALT. Sun-Sentinel. May 16, 2024.
16. News: Shapiro. Leonard. January 2, 1997. ON NEW YEAR'S, ALLIANCE DROPS BALL. The Washington Post. May 16, 2024.
17. Web site: 1995 FedEx Orange Bowl (TV Special 1995). IMDb.com. May 16, 2024.
18. News: Kent. Milton. January 3, 1995. After decisive Orange, interest gets squeezed. The Baltimore Sun. May 16, 2024.
19. Web site: Cris Collinsworth. 16W Marketing, LLC. May 16, 2024.
20. News: Derowitsch. Mark. January 2, 1995. 1995 Orange Bowl, LJS TV commentary. lLincoln-Journal Star. May 16, 2024.
21. News: January 5, 1994. WOOLDRIDGE MUST RULE ON OFFICIALS. Roanoke Times. May 16, 2024.
22. News: Dearth. Sonny. January 7, 1997. O.J. SCORES POINTS AT ORANGE BOWL. Daily Press. May 16, 2024.
23. News: January 8, 1993. CALLS OF THE WILD STILL VIVID TO DON CRIQUI. Sun-Sentinel. May 16, 2024.
24. News: Frager. Ray. January 2, 1994. NBC helps make case for replay officiating. The Baltimore Sun. May 16, 2024.
25. News: Stewart. Larry. January 2, 1992. A Hard Day's Night of Football. Los Angeles Times. May 16, 2024.
26. News: Jackman. Phil. January 4, 1991. NFL announcers fail to bowl over college viewers. The Baltimore Sun. May 16, 2024.
27. Web site: 1991 FedEx Orange Bowl (TV Special 1991). IMDb.com. May 16, 2024.
28. Web site: 1990 FedEx Orange Bowl (TV Special 1990). IMDb.com. May 16, 2024.
29. News: Vandervort. Will. October 8, 2015. Criqui calls another Clemson victory. The Clemson Insider. May 16, 2024.
30. News: Stewart. Larry. January 5, 1989 . Trumpy Hopes to Clear the Air With Miami's Johnson. Los Angeles Times. May 16, 2024.
31. Sullivan. Robert. January 11, 1988. SCORECARD - Sports Illustrated Vault. Sports Illustrated. May 16, 2024.
32. News: Rosenberg. Howard. January 3, 1986. 'KEY' BOWL POLL: BEST, WORST. Los Angels Times. May 16, 2024.
33. Book: Dozier, Ray. 2006. The Oklahoma Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. 242. 978-1-58261-699-5.
34. Web site: 1985 Orange Bowl (TV Special 1985). IMDb.com. May 16, 2024.
35. News: Rubenstein. Alan. April 30, 2020. NBCSN to air four classic Miami football games Thursday and Friday. Canes Warning. May 16, 2024.
36. News: January 2, 1985. 'UNHORSEMANLIKE' CONDUCT HURTS SOONERS: REFS THROW FLAG ON OVERENTHUSIASTIC SOONER SCHOONER. Sun-Sentinel. May 16, 2024.
37. News: Taafe. William. January 2, 1982. Orange Bowl (NBC) . The Washington Post. May 16, 2024.
38. News: Remnick. David. January 3, 1984. Fumbles And Scores By Bowlful. The Washington Post. May 16, 2024.
39. News: Rubenstein. Alan. December 22, 2017. Remembering Dick Enberg Orange Bowl and Miami Hurricanes Connections. Canes Warning. May 16, 2024.
40. News: Wilson. David. December 27, 2017. Revisiting The '78 Orange Bowl. Washington County Enterprise-Leader. May 16, 2024.
41. News: Nagle. Dae. January 13, 2016. ESPN Remembers Colleague, Friend Jim Simpson. ESPN Press Room. May 16, 2024.
42. Web site: 1973 Orange Bowl (TV Special 1973). IMDb.com. May 16, 2024.
43. Web site: 1970 Orange Bowl (TV Special 1970). IMDb.com. May 16, 2024.
44. Web site: Curt Gowdy. Bohn. Matt. SABR. May 16, 2024.
45. Web site: THE HUDDLE. February 8, 2019. UGA Football Lettermen's Club. May 16, 2024.
46. News: Tramel. Berry. March 17, 2022. Tramel's ScissorTales: OSU football's offense is changing; progress would help Derek Mason. The Oklahoma. May 16, 2024.
47. Web site: 1961 Orange Bowl (TV Special 1961). IMDb.com. May 16, 2024.
48. News: Isenberg. Cory. September 30, 2016 . Sports Connections - Johnstown's Ray Scott was voice of Lombardi's Green Bay Packers. The Tribune Democrat. May 16, 2024.
49. News: August 31, 1968. The Daily Intelligencer from Doylestown, Pennsylvania • Page 20. The Daily Intelligencer. May 16, 2024.
50. Web site: 1959 Orange Bowl (TV Special 1959). IMDb.com. May 16, 2024.
51. News: December 28, 1958. Royal Signed As Analyst In Bowl Game. - Page 13. The Victoria Advocate. May 13, 2024.
52. News: January 1, 1959. Reading Eagle - Page 8. Reading Eagle. May 13, 2024.
53. News: December 29, 1957. Sunday Herald - Page 93 . Sunday Herald. May 13, 2024.
54. News: December 21, 1956. Murk Fillers Orange Bowl Game On Cbs Television - Page 6. The Newberry Observer. May 13, 2024.
55. Web site: 1956 Orange Bowl (TV Special 1956. IMDb.com. May 16, 2024.
56. News: December 31, 1954. Lewiston Evening Journal - Page 6. Lewiston Evening Journal. May 13, 2024.
57. News: Craig. Jack. December 26, 1954. Dial-Lights Radio Television - Page 9. Eugene Register-Guard . May 13, 2024.
58. News: December 26, 1953. Mike Highlights. - Page 3. Eugene Register-Guard. May 13, 2024.
59. News: December 13, 1953 . The Big Picture. - Page 28. Wilmington Sunday Star. May 13, 2024.
60. Web site: Red Barber. January 8, 2012 . SABR.
61. News: Sussman. Mike. December 13, 2020. Sussman: The greatest Christmas gift came in May 1949. Newark Advocate. May 16, 2024.
62. Web site: Football's Top Commentators to Work ESPN's Bowl Game Coverage | ESPN MediaZone . January 2, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111206024111/http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/11/30/football%E2%80%99s-top-commentators-to-work-espn%E2%80%99s-bowl-game-coverage/ . December 6, 2011 . dead .
63. Steven Zeitchik – Fox faces BCS contract challenges. The Hollywood Reporter, December 28, 2007
64. http://www.ncaasports.com/football/mens/story/7908456 ABC Pulls Its BCS Bowl Bid
65. Michael Hiestand – Fox to announce deal to air Fiesta, Orange, Sugar bowls in 06. USA Today, November 21, 2004
66. Keith Dunnavant – The Muddle In The BCS Huddle: Will a deal to expand the Bowl Championship Series get sacked by TV? BusinessWeek, October 4, 2004
67. News: Sandomir. Richard. January 3, 1992. TV SPORTS; NBC Handles a Lost-Feed Frenzy. The New York Times. May 16, 2024.
68. Web site: BCS National Championship and Bowl Games on ESPN Deportes. 4 December 2012 . ESPN. 24 December 2012.
69. Web site: Breaking News - ABC Sports and Espn, InC. to Provide Extensive Coverage of Bowl Championship Series - TheFutonCritic.com. www.thefutoncritic.com. 15 December 2018.
70. Web site: Archived copy . 2009-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141216060230/http://www.armchairqb.com/selections.html#game1 . 2014-12-16 . dead .