ESPN College Football Preview Coverage Tackles Top Topics Heading into Season

Downloadable ESPN Images: http://bit.ly/1ejbycD

College football had an eventful off-season and its looks to keeps fans engaged as the 2015 season kicks off Thursday, Sept. 3 across ESPN networks. ESPN’s top analysts unite to preview the upcoming season in a variety of studio shows, including the 13^th annual Herbies Pre-Season Special on Thursday, Aug. 27, and the College GameDay Preview Special Built by The Home Depot on Saturday, Aug. 29.

Herbies Pre-Season Special: Kirk Herbstreit, joined by host Rece Davis, honors the best-of-the-best in the 13^th annual awards show, airing Thursday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

College GameDay Preview Special Built by The Home Depot: The annual show, airing Saturday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m., will tackle several key storylines heading into the 2015 season: Ohio State defending its’ title despite off-season suspensions; national quarterback uncertainty; Harbaugh effect at Michigan; State of the SEC; TCU/Baylor looking to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt; and who the GameDay analysts think will make the title game.

Heisman Trophy Preview Show Presented by Nissan: Analysts Desmond Howard and Danny Kanell, joined by host John Saunders on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. on ESPN, preview the lead Heisman Trophy contenders for the upcoming season.

Championship Drive: College Football Season Preview: Davis sat down with some of the top coaches earlier this summer to discuss the 2015 season. In-depth conversations include: Alabama’s Nick Saban; South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier; Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher; USC’s Steve Sarkisian; Oregon’s Mark Helfrich; Texas’ Charlie Strong, plus TCU’s Gary Patterson and Baylor’s Art Briles on set together. Topics will also include a discussion with the GameDay analysts on Ohio State’s Urban Meyer and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, as well as how the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry has been renewed. The show will also air Sunday, at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.

College Football Live continues daily, at 2 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2, with host Chris Cotter.

College GameDay Opens Season from Fort Worth, Texas
ESPN College GameDay Built by The Home Depot – college football’s longest running and most celebrated pregame show – will begin the season for the second straight year from Sundance Square in Fort Worth, Texas. The weekly three-hour Emmy Award-winning show (Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon ET) will open September 5 in advance of the annual neutral-site matchup from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this year showcasing No. 20 Wisconsin against No. 3 Alabama on Saturday Night Football on ABC presented by Wells Fargo, as part of DICK’s Sporting Goods Kickoff Week at 8 p.m.

ESPNU Conference Previews
ESPNU will preview each of the power five conferences in five one-hour specials, concluding with an overall look at the 2015 College Football Preview:

*Originally aired on Monday, August 24

-30-