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College Football: 8 great announcers, analysts, reporters you may not know

By Michael Collins

Oct 25, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Joe Tessitore and Tim Tebow and Marcus Spears and Paul Finebaum share a laugh during the SEC Nation pre game show before the game with the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Joe Tessitore and Tim Tebow and Marcus Spears and Paul Finebaum share a laugh during the SEC Nation pre game show before the game with the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; ESPN announcer Joe Tessitore speaks during the National Football Hall of Fame press conference at JW Marriott Camelback Inn. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; ESPN announcer Joe Tessitore speaks during the National Football Hall of Fame press conference at JW Marriott Camelback Inn. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Joe Tessitore

  • Current Assignment: ESPN College Football
  • Previous: SEC Nation, ESPN Thursday Night CFB, ESPN College Basketball, Triple Crown Horse Racing

Tessitore is by far the most well-known name on this list, but still not known by enough. Tessitore joined ESPN in 2002, and has worked various roles on their college football, basketball, boxing and horse racing coverage. His move to the prime time college football game on ESPN alongside longtime analyst Todd Blackledge will give Tessitore some well-deserved exposure.

One of the more tireless and well-prepared broadcasters in the business, Tessitore’s voice is unmistakable, and helps to bring a game to life for the audience.

He was the host for the first two seasons of the SEC Network’s traveling pregame show, SEC Nation, where he worked alongside some Tim Tebow, Paul Finebaum and Marcus Spears.

As for his work as a play-by-play announcer, just ask any diehard college football fan about the “Tessitore Effect”.  It’s a thing, and it’s real.

If there’s a chance of things getting wacky in a college football game, and to have it extend into the wee hours of the morning, it’s going to happen when Joe Tessitore is in the booth.

Next: 50 Best College Football Players for 2016

Hopefully as the years progress we’ll get to hear a lot more of Tessitore and all the others on this list who may not be household names yet, but certainly are a credit to their profession and to college football.

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