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College Football: Week 13 announcer pairings

By Tim Kaiser

Nov 6, 2016; Commerce City, CO, USA; General view of a ESPN broadcast camera crew on the sidelines of the playoff match between the Los Angeles Galaxy against the Colorado Rapids at Sporting Goods Park. Rapids win 1-0 in a shootout (3-1). Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2016; Commerce City, CO, USA; General view of a ESPN broadcast camera crew on the sidelines of the playoff match between the Los Angeles Galaxy against the Colorado Rapids at Sporting Goods Park. Rapids win 1-0 in a shootout (3-1). Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Find out which announcer pairings will be calling the biggest games of the weekend as Rivalry Week comes to a close across the myriad of networks.

Decision-makers in college sports are always worried about the bottom line, and sometimes that is at the expense of fans. Other times marketing gimmicks are amazing. This year’s “Rivalry Week” is the latter. The long holiday weekend is filled with compelling and historic matchups culminating with four games that feature Top 25 teams with major College Football Playoff implications on Saturday. The unorthodox schedule has also created some variety in the announcer pairings covering the games.

The biggest game of the weekend — and possibly the season– No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 2 Ohio State is getting the attention from ESPN it deserves. College GameDay will hit the air two hours earlier than normal from Columbus. Their top announcer team of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Samantha Ponder will be joined by Tom Rinaldi on the sideline.

Because Michigan-Ohio State is a noon kick, Joe Tessitore and an his crew are calling the prime time game this week. Florida State and Florida will go head-to-head for Sunshine State supremacy on ABC.

The Iron Bowl will be the featured SEC on CBS game this year as it so often is. It will be extra special as it will be long-time announcer Verne Lundquist’s last time calling Alabama-Auburn for CBS before his well-deserved retirement.

Fox’s top broadcast team, headlined by play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson, took the Pac-12 North-deciding Apple Cup on Friday, so their second team will call the pivotal matchup in the South between No. 22 Utah and No. 9 Colorado.

Saturday

Nov 12, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) carries the ball as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) defends during the first half at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) carries the ball as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) defends during the first half at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State- 12 p.m. ET

  • Network: ABC
  • Play-by-Play: Chris Fowler
  • Color Commentator: Kirk Herbstreit
  • Sideline Reporter: Samantha Ponder, Tom Rinaldi

Kentucky at No. 11 Louisville- 12 p.m. ET

  • Network: ESPN
  • Play-by-Play: Mike Patrick
  • Color Commentator: Ed Cunningham
  • Sideline Reporter: Jerry Punch

Michigan State at No. 7 Penn State- 3:30 p.m. ET

  • Network: ESPN
  • Play-by-Play: Bob Wischusen
  • Color Commentator: Brock Huard
  • Sideline Reporter: Allison Williams
Nov 19, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) goes over the defense during the game against Chattanooga Mocs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) goes over the defense during the game against Chattanooga Mocs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 13 Auburn at No. 1 Alabama– 3:30 p.m. ET

  • Network: CBS
  • Play-by-Play: Verne Lundquist
  • Color Commentator: Gary Danielson
  • Sideline Reporter: Allie LaForce

Notre Dame at No. 12 USC- 3:30 p.m. ET

  • Network: ABC
  • Play-by-Play: Steve Levy
  • Color Commentator: Brian Griese
  • Sideline Reporter: Todd McShay

Mississippi State at Ole Miss – 3:30 p.m. ET

  • Network: SEC Network
  • Play-by-Play: Brent Musburger
  • Color Commentator: Jesse Palmer
  • Sideline Reporter: Kaylee Hartung

Minnesota at No. 6 Wisconsin- 3:30 p.m. ET

  • Network: Big Ten Network
  • Play-by-Play: Kevin Kugler
  • Color Commentator: Matt Millen
  • Sideline Reporter: Lisa Byington
Nov 19, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau (13) celebrates a rushing touchdown by running back Phillip Lindsay (23) (background) in the fourth quarter against the Washington State Cougars at Folsom Field. The Buffaloes defeated the Cougars 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA
Nov 19, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau (13) celebrates a rushing touchdown by running back Phillip Lindsay (23) (background) in the fourth quarter against the Washington State Cougars at Folsom Field. The Buffaloes defeated the Cougars 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA /

No. 22 Utah at No. 9 Colorado- 7:30 p.m. ET

  • Network: FOX
  • Play-by-Play: Joe Davis
  • Color Commentator: Brady Quinn
  • Sideline Reporter: Jenny Taft

South Carolina at No. 4 Clemson 7:30 p.m. ET

  • Network: ESPN
  • Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch
  • Color Commentator: Greg McElroy
  • Sideline Reporter: Tom Luginbill
Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) leads quarterback Deondre Francois (12) on a sweep during the second quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) leads quarterback Deondre Francois (12) on a sweep during the second quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 15 Florida at No. 14 Florida State-8 p.m. ET

  • Network: ABC
  • Play-by-Play: Joe Tessitore
  • Color Commentator: Todd Blackledge
  • Sideline Reporter: Holly Rowe

Announcer pairings courtesy of Daniel Ormsby of Eye on Sky and Air Sports.

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