Cooper Neill/Getty Images Kirk Herbstreit revealed the personal reason his emotions overflowed during the broadcast of the College Football Playoff National Championship. Herbstreit, 55, was seen wiping away tears after the Monday,

Kirk Herbstreit grew up respecting Notre Dame, but the former Ohio State quarterback from near Dayton also wanted to beat the Fighting Irish.

Herbstreit — a Centerville, Ohio, native — graduated from Ohio State after playing with the Buckeyes from 1989 to 1992.

Kirk Herbstreit wasn’t able to hold back his emotions after Ohio State won the national championship on Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the longtime ESPN college football analyst brought to tears while he was live on the air.

ESPN broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit felt all the emotions during his postgame debrief with Scott Van Pelt and Chris Fowler after his Ohio State Buckeyes won the College Football Playoff national title.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit had college football fans buzzing over his family dog, Peter. Herbstreit used to be with his golden retriever Ben, who accompanied him to work and various events.

The Buckeyes' thrilling College Football Playoff victory stirs deep emotions for Ohio State alum Kirk Herbstreit.

Jan 18, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) talks to the media during 2025 CFP National Championship Media Day at Georgia World Congress Center, Building A. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

When asked about the Buckeyes’ 34-23 win over Notre Dame, the ESPN analyst, who also quarterbacked Ohio State from 1989-93 and has a son currently on the team, became emotional and wiped away tears during the network’s postgame show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

That, more anything anything, has impressed ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit.

Kirk Herbstreit made an admission on the air Monday after Ohio State won the national championship. The Ohio State Buckeyes dominated Notre Dame for most

ATLANTA – Kirk Herbstreit grew up watching Notre Dame highlights from a Dayton-area department store, respecting the Fighting Irish but also wanting to see them lose. “I used to go to a ...