ABC college bowl game broadcasts


ABC has been airing college football since acquiring the NCAA contract in 1966. Chris Schenkel and Bud Wilkinson were the number one broadcast team through 1973. Keith Jackson, its best-known college football play-by-play man, announced games from 1966 through 2005 on ABC, and was considered by many to be "the voice of college football." Jackson was ABC's lead play-by play man for 25 years, from 1974 through 1998. He originally was to retire after the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, but agreed to remain on a more restricted schedule and remained with ABC through the 2006 Rose Bowl.

Major bowl games

From 1999 to 2006, all games of the Bowl Championship Series 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. Overall, the contract was worth $550 million over the eight years for all the bowl games.
Starting with the 2006 season, coverage would be split between ABC and Fox. Fox paid for each bowl game US$20 million. 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.
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.
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.

Fiesta Bowl

From 1999 to 2006, the game aired on ABC as part of the first BCS package.
DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporter
January 2, 2006ABCBrent MusburgerGary DanielsonJack Arute
January 1, 2005ABCBrent MusburgerGary DanielsonLynn Swann
January 2, 2004ABCTim BrantEd CunninghamSam Ryan
January 3, 2003ABCKeith JacksonDan FoutsTodd Harris and Lynn Swann
January 1, 2002ABCBrent MusburgerGary DanielsonJack Arute
January 1, 2001ABCSean McDonoughEd CunninghamLeslie Gudel
January 2, 2000ABCTim BrantDean BlevinsLeslie Gudel
January 4, 1999ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann

Orange Bowl

ABC held the rights to the event from 1962 to 1964 and again from 1999 to 2006.
DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporters
January 3, 2006ABCMike TiricoKirk HerbstreitErin Andrews
January 4, 2005ABCBrad NesslerBob GrieseLynn Swann and Todd Harris
January 1, 2004ABCBrad NesslerBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 2, 2003ABCTim BrantEd CunninghamSam Ryan
January 2, 2002ABCBrad NesslerBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 3, 2001ABCBrad NesslerBob GrieseLynn Swann and Jack Arute
January 1, 2000ABCBrad NesslerBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 2, 1999ABCBrad NesslerGary DanielsonDean Blevins
January 1, 1964ABCCurt GowdyPaul Christman
January 1, 1963ABCCurt GowdyPaul ChristmanJim McKay
January 1, 1962ABCCurt GowdyPaul ChristmanPaul Christman

Peach Bowl

DateNetworkPlay-by-play announcersColor commentatorsSideline reporters
December 29, 1990ABCSteve ZabriskieLynn SwannSusan Hunt
December 30, 1989ABCGary BenderDick Vermeil

Rose Bowl

From 1989 to 2010, the game was broadcast on ABC, usually at 2 p.m. PST; the 2005 edition was the first one broadcast in HDTV. Beginning in 2007, FOX had the broadcast rights to the other Bowl Championship Series games, but the Rose Bowl, which negotiates its own television contract independent of the BCS, had agreed to keep the game on ABC.
Beginning with the 2010 season, ESPN now broadcasts all the BCS/CFP games, including the Rose Bowl game.
DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporter
January 1, 2010ABCBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitLisa Salters
January 1, 2009ABCBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitLisa Salters
January 1, 2008ABCBrent MusburgerKirk HerbstreitLisa Salters
January 1, 2007ABCBrent MusburgerBob Davie and Kirk HerbstreitLisa Salters
January 4, 2006ABCKeith JacksonDan FoutsTodd Harris and Holly Rowe
January 1, 2005ABCKeith JacksonDan FoutsTodd Harris
January 1, 2004ABCKeith JacksonDan FoutsTodd Harris
January 1, 2003ABCBrent MusburgerGary DanielsonJack Arute
January 3, 2002ABCKeith JacksonTim BrantTodd Harris and Lynn Swann
January 1, 2001ABCKeith JacksonTim BrantTodd Harris
January 1, 2000ABCKeith JacksonDan FoutsTodd Harris
January 1, 1999ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 1, 1998ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 1, 1997ABCBrent MusburgerDick VermeilJack Arute
January 1, 1996ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 2, 1995ABCKeith JacksonBob Griese-
January 1, 1994ABCKeith JacksonBob Griese-
January 1, 1993ABCBrent MusburgerDick Vermeil-
January 1, 1992ABCKeith JacksonBob Griese-
January 1, 1991ABCKeith JacksonBob Griese-
January 1, 1990ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseMike Adamle and Jack Arute
January 2, 1989ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseMike Adamle

Sugar Bowl

From 1999 to 2006, the game aired on ABC as part of its BCS package, where it had also been televised from 1969 through 1998. The Sugar Bowl was the only Bowl Alliance game to stick with ABC following the 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons; the Fiesta and Orange Bowls were televised by CBS.
DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor commentatorSideline reporter
January 2, 2006ABCBrad NesslerBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 3, 2005ABCMike TiricoTim Brant and Terry BowdenSuzy Shuster
January 4, 2004ABCBrent MusburgerGary DanielsonJack Arute and Lynn Swann
January 1, 2003ABCBrad NesslerBob GrieseLynn Swann
January 1, 2002ABCMike TiricoDavid NorrieJerry Punch
January 2, 2001ABCBrent MusburgerGary DanielsonJack Arute
January 4, 2000ABCBrent MusburgerGary DanielsonJack Arute and Lynn Swann
January 1, 1999ABCBrent MusburgerDan FoutsJack Arute
January 1, 1998ABCBrent MusburgerDan Fouts-
January 2, 1997ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseLynn Swann
December 31, 1995ABCMark JonesTodd BlackledgeDean Blevins
January 2, 1995ABCBrent MusburgerDick Vermeil-
January 1, 1994ABCBrent MusburgerDick Vermeil-
January 1, 1993ABCKeith JacksonBob Griese-
January 1, 1992ABCAl MichaelsFrank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf-
January 1, 1991ABCAl MichaelsFrank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf-
January 1, 1990ABCAl MichaelsFrank Gifford and Dan DierdorfLynn Swann
January 2, 1989ABCAl MichaelsFrank Gifford and Dan DierdorfLynn Swann
January 1, 1988ABCKeith JacksonBob GrieseMike Adamle
January 1, 1987ABCKeith JacksonTim Brant-
January 1, 1986ABCKeith JacksonTim BrantFrank Broyles
January 1, 1985ABCKeith JacksonTim BrantFrank Broyles
January 2, 1984ABCKeith JacksonTim BrantFrank Broyles
January 1, 1983ABCKeith JacksonJim LampleyFrank Broyles
January 1, 1982ABCKeith JacksonBill FlemmingFrank Broyles
January 1, 1981ABCKeith JacksonBill FlemmingFrank Broyles
January 1, 1980ABCKeith JacksonBill FlemmingAra Parseghian
January 1, 1979ABCKeith JacksonFrank BroylesJim Lampley
January 1, 1978ABCKeith JacksonAra Parseghian-
January 1, 1977ABCKeith JacksonAra Parseghian
December 31, 1975ABCKeith JacksonBud Wilkinson-
December 31, 1974ABCKeith JacksonBarry Switzer-
December 31, 1973ABCChris SchenkelBud Wilkinson and Howard Cosell-
December 31, 1972ABCChris SchenkelBud Wilkinson-
January 1, 1972ABCChris SchenkelBud Wilkinson
January 1, 1971ABCChris SchenkelBud Wilkinson
January 1, 1970ABCChris SchenkelBud Wilkinson

Other bowl games

Citrus Bowl

The bowl has been broadcast by Mizlou, NBC, and ABC since then, with the exception of ESPN for the 2011 and 2012 editions.

Las Vegas Bowl

The Las Vegas Bowl has been televised by ABC since 2013; ABC also televised the game in 2001. Other editions of the game were broadcast by ESPN or ESPN2.

Liberty Bowl

Since 1990, the game has been broadcast predominantly by ESPN, with some editions on ABC.
DateNetworkPlay-by-playColor CommentatorSideline Reporter
December 30, 2017ABCMike PatrickTommy Tuberville-
December 31, 2011ABCDave LaMontRay BentleyQuint Kessenich
December 30, 1995ABC
December 27, 1980ABCJim LampleySteve Davis
December 22, 1979ABCKeith JacksonAra ParseghianVerne Lundquist
December 23, 1978ABCChris SchenkelAra ParseghianVerne Lundquist
December 19, 1977ABCKeith JacksonFrank Broyles
December 20, 1976ABCKeith JacksonAra Parseghian
December 20, 1971ABCChris SchenkelBud Wilkinson
December 12, 1970ABC
December 13, 1969ABCChris SchenkelBud Wilkinson
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