ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit has built a reputation as one of college football's most trusted voices, but this weekend he's trending for reasons that have nothing to do with his analysis on 'College GameDay.' The longtime analyst found himself in the crosshairs of social media after defending the network's decision to feature U.S. Senator Ted Cruz on the show to discuss the Protect College Sports Act.
Herbstreit praised Cruz for enduring relentless boos from the crowd, while also claiming he was completely unaware of the senator's political stances. '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.'
He doubled down, stating, 'I don't really get into politics, I'm an independent guy – right down the middle of the fairway. I'm for America, so whoever helps us as a country, I'm for.'
But fans quickly unearthed a July 2016 tweet from Herbstreit that paints a very different picture. 'Best I've heard Donald Trump sound during this entire campaign,' he wrote. 'Finally talking about issues and his plans to resolve them. Sounds great.'
The backlash didn't stop there. Users also noted that Herbstreit follows FBI Director Kash Patel, Speaker Mike Johnson, and other figures closely tied to the Trump administration. For many, this isn't just a matter of political preference—it's about credibility.
'Fine. But Kirk has forgotten two things,' Yahoo Sports' Dan Wolken said. 'He has tweeted about politics and politicians, including Ted Cruz, so he's just lying. Kirk follows 844 people on X. That list is public. You can go look at it and judge for yourself whether he doesn't follow politics.'
One fan echoed the sentiment: 'I don't do politics is such a cop out. You are a grown man and should be informed on the state of the country if you love America. You don't have to be an activist but this fence sitting is cowardly and disingenuous. You know what you support and what do you don't support.'
Herbstreit hasn't responded to the criticism, instead focusing on his upcoming broadcast duties for a marquee matchup between No. 7 LSU and No. 8 Ole Miss. While it's unlikely ESPN will pressure him over this, the optics are hard to ignore.
This isn't the first time Herbstreit's off-field comments have sparked discussion. He's previously opened up about Lee Corso's health struggles, and he's shared insights into his personal life, including the secret behind raising four boys. But this latest controversy feels different—it's about consistency and transparency.
For a man who claims to steer clear of politics, his digital footprint tells a more complicated story. Whether fans will let this slide or continue to call him out remains to be seen. One thing's for sure: the 'right down the middle of the fairway' line is getting harder to believe.
