Get ready for a wave of nostalgia as ESPN brings back its iconic college football theme song for the upcoming "SEC on ABC" broadcasts.
The new theme, a re-orchestration of the classic melody used in the late 1990s and early 2000s, will debut on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, during the Miami at Florida game at 3 p.m. Eastern.
The reimagined theme represents a collaboration between the SEC, ESPN Music, ESPN’s college football production team, and composer Bob Christianson, known for creating the renowned “NHL on ESPN” theme.
The music has been revitalized for ESPN's new 10-year media rights deal with the Southeastern Conference. It aims to evoke the nostalgia, pageantry, and passion of the early years of SEC on ESPN for a new generation of fans.
“Music is a crucial element in shaping the storytelling of any broadcast,” said ESPN president of content Burke Magnus. “The opportunity to resurrect a theme song that means so much to college football fans, and so many of us at ESPN, was important as we start this new chapter in our relationship with the SEC.”
The theme will be used exclusively on SEC home games on ABC, spanning beyond the traditional 3:30 p.m. window. It will also be featured during primetime games on ABC Saturday Night Football and noon window broadcasts.
“By reaching into the past and connecting with the present, ESPN is bringing a touch of tradition to a new era of televised SEC sports,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “This re-orchestrated composition will enhance the presentation of SEC football on ABC by bringing a bit of nostalgia to the SEC’s new Saturday television experience.”
The ESPN College Football theme music reached peak popularity in the early 2000s when ESPN showcased SEC football on Saturday nights. The theme became a part of pop culture, even appearing in the video game EA Sports NCAA 14.