ESPN has officially named Louis Riddick as the analyst set to replace Robert Griffin III on their college football game coverage team. This decision is part of a broader set of broadcasting changes the network announced for the 2024 season. Riddick will be joining play-by-play commentator Bob Wischusen and sideline reporter Kris Budden on ESPN and ABC’s college football broadcasts.
Riddick, a well-respected NFL analyst and former NFL player, will continue his role in calling “select” Monday Night Football games, in addition to his new responsibilities with the college football crew. This dual role underscores ESPN’s confidence in Riddick’s versatility and expertise across both professional and collegiate football.
Griffin, who had previously worked alongside Wischusen and Budden during the 2023 season, was recently let go by ESPN. His departure, along with that of longtime ESPN host Sam Ponder, was reportedly due to budgetary cuts as the network continues to navigate financial challenges.
In a related move, ESPN also announced that Mike Greenberg would take over as the new host of “Sunday NFL Countdown,” filling the spot previously held by Ponder. These changes mark a significant reshuffling of ESPN’s football coverage teams as the network prepares for the upcoming season.
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Robert Griffin III, a former star quarterback at Baylor and the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, had been with ESPN for three years, contributing to both college football and NFL coverage. Following the news of his departure, Griffin took to social media to express his gratitude for the outpouring of support he received. He hinted that he would soon address the situation in more detail, directing fans to his personal YouTube channel for updates.
“YOU GUYS ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST. Your support means everything to us, and I can’t wait to connect with you all directly about everything,” Griffin wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. “I’ll be sitting down soon to chat with YOU, so make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, drop all your questions here and under my latest video and I’ll be answering them soon.”
In the wake of Griffin’s departure, ESPN radio host Paul Finebaum commented on the situation, noting that he had no insider knowledge about why Griffin and the network parted ways. Finebaum acknowledged that Griffin brought a unique perspective to the analyst role, differing from the typical “paint-by-number” approach seen in many sports commentators.
“Everybody always thinks that people in positions like this don’t want to comment on it,” Finebaum said. “I’ve got strong opinions on a lot of people I work with, and some of them might blow you away. If I had some insight, I would be happy to share it with you. I know him. I know him pretty well and he was completely different than most of the paint-by-number analysts.”
As ESPN moves forward with its revamped lineup, the addition of Louis Riddick to the college football team is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to their broadcasts. Fans of Griffin, meanwhile, will be eagerly awaiting his next steps and his promised discussions on YouTube.
