ESPN’s Holly Rowe to Join Commentary Team for ABC’s “Saturday Night Football”

ESPN has announced that Holly Rowe will be joining the ABC Saturday Night Football commentator team this fall serving as a sideline reporter as well as offering play-by-play commentary.

What’s Happening:

  • ESPN has announced that commentator Holly Rowe has been tapped to join the ABC Saturday Night Football team.
  • She will step into her new role this fall serving as a sideline reporter for the franchise.
  • Rowe will also join the play-by-play commentator team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit as she kicks off her 26th season covering college football for ESPN and ABC.
  • Rowe’s new duties begin this month as part of her existing multi-year contract, and this new assignment continues her reporting presence from kickoff of the college football season through the conclusion of the College Football Playoff.

About Holly Rowe:

  • Rowe joined the network full time in August 1998 and has since covered a wide variety of sports for ESPN.
  • In addition to her college football responsibilities, Rowe is one of the lead ESPN reporters on: 
    • Big Monday men’s college basketball
    • NCAA Women’s Final Four
    • Women’s College World Series
    • NCAA indoor and beach volleyball national championships
    • Collegiate gymnastics
    • WNBA

What They’re Saying:

  • Lee Fitting, ESPN senior vice president of production: “For more than two decades, Holly has been a well-respected member of ESPN, establishing herself as one of college sports’ best ambassadors in the process. Holly’s dedication to her work is indisputable, and the knowledge, passion and professionalism she brings to her craft every day shines through.”
  • Holly Rowe: “When they told me, I just started crying because I’ve been obsessed with college football my entire life. It’s a dream come true and I’m thankful to my bosses for this opportunity. I’m starting my 26th season covering games on ABC and ESPN, and it’s been long years filled with hard work. I’m excited to join what’s been established as the best team in college football with Chris and Kirk, and I hope to be the world’s best teammate to them.
  • Holly Rowe: “Early in my career, I would cover the NCAA Division III National Championship every year and I met a legendary coach named Frosty Westering. His quote for life was ‘make the big time where you are’ so you’re not always chasing the big time. I’ve adopted that as my personal mantra and I’ve tried to make the ‘big time’ where I am, putting my heart and soul into every show and every game. It’s really special for that to finally pay off and I’m just grateful, honored and humbled.”