Chris Simms has never been shy about calling out ESPN, and this weekend he took aim at the network's flagship college football show, "College GameDay," for what he sees as blatant political propaganda.
The controversy began when U.S. Senator Ted Cruz appeared on "College GameDay" to discuss the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA), a piece of legislation that has sparked fierce debate across the sports world. The interview drew immediate backlash from fans who saw it as an inappropriate mixing of politics and sports.
But Simms, during a recent episode of "PFT Live," went much further, accusing ESPN of using the show as a platform to push a political agenda that conveniently aligns with the network's financial interests. "Let's call this what this is: this is the Save ESPN and SEC Contract Act," Simms said. "That's all this is. ESPN paid a lot of money for the SEC and it's, 'Oh no, the SEC might not be king anymore. The Big Ten won the last three national championships. We want to go back to the old rules where everyone else follows the rules, but we're the SEC so we'll cheat and pay everybody else under the table.' That's why ESPN gave Ted Cruz [that platform]. You're going to bring politics into the biggest game of the year. What an embarrassment!"
Simms didn't stop there. He took a broader swipe at the state of American politics, arguing that politicians are wasting time on college sports legislation while ignoring more pressing national issues. "It's so stupid that our politicians are worried about this while they're fixing nothing for the rest of the country," he continued. "The country is more divided and ruined now than ever before in my lifetime, but we're worried about saving the ESPN and SEC contract."
The criticism isn't just coming from Simms. USA Today's Blake Toppmeyer highlighted the hypocrisy in a recent column, noting that Nick Saban, who has become a vocal advocate for the PCSA, appeared on "GameDay" a week before Cruz to campaign for the bill. Toppmeyer also pointed out that ESPN never disclosed Disney's lobbying efforts for the PCSA, raising questions about transparency. This isn't the first time the network has faced backlash over its handling of political topics on GameDay.
Meanwhile, Kirk Herbstreit, a longtime "GameDay" analyst, defended the decision to have Cruz on the show, claiming it wasn't a political move. "I've never seen a guy booed that long and be able to power through that. I think he was booed pretty much the entire time he spoke," Herbstreit said. "I don't really follow it. I don't know anything about his political views. I don't know what he's for or against. I care about football, my family, my faith and my country."
Clearly, the rest of the football world disagrees with Herbstreit. The backlash has been swift and loud, with many fans echoing Simms' sentiment that ESPN is using its platform to push a self-serving agenda. The network's decision to bring Cruz on, especially during the biggest game of the year, has left many questioning its priorities.
This isn't the first time ESPN has faced criticism for its coverage decisions. Fans have previously blasted the network for deceptive kickoff times and for pulling major games in favor of other programming, but this political entanglement feels different. It's one thing to frustrate fans with scheduling; it's another to use a beloved pregame show as a political soapbox.
As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: Chris Simms has put ESPN on notice. Whether the network will listen remains to be seen, but for now, the sports world is watching closely.
