SEC Network adds Florida QB Jesse Palmer

By Adam Silverstein
March 12, 2014

Former Florida Gators quarterback Jesse Palmer has been hired as the lead college football color analyst for the SEC Network, which is set to launch this fall.

The network announced Wednesday that Palmer and legendary play-by-play man Brent Musburger will serve as the lead announce team for the upstart channel, which will air its first game on Aug. 28 when Texas A&M visits South Carolina.


“Brent Musburger is a cultural icon who has been guiding fans through many of sport’s most spectacular moments for decades,” said John Wildhack, ESPN Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, in a release. “His big-game performance and unmistakable style will elevate our football coverage on the SEC Network. Serving as the definitive play-by-play voice for this major network launch represents an exciting new chapter in his legendary career and reinforces our commitment and investment in the SEC Network.”

Wildhack added: “Jesse Palmer has quickly established himself as one of college football’s most insightful, entertaining and dedicated analysts. As a former SEC quarterback, he brings the perfect combination of playing experience and deep conference knowledge to the SEC Network. Partnering him with Brent on this new national platform will create a memorable booth for college football fans everywhere.”

Musburger, who will also call Big 12 college basketball games as part of his new agreement, covered Palmer when he was one of Florida’s signal callers from 1997-2000. Palmer ‘s new deal keeps him involved with ESPN’s Thursday night college football broadcast and postseason action.

“I am honored and humbled at the rare opportunity to help launch a national network of this magnitude and to do so alongside, Brent, a legend within the sport and the industry” said Palmer. “”Playing in the SEC represented four of the greatest years of my life and I feel incredibly fortunate to now have the opportunity to cover this great conference. Year after year, their on-field success continues the conference’s standard of excellence and their passionate fan base is second to none.”

Musburger and Palmer are the latest additions to an already-stellar cast of on-air talent compiled by the network. Joe Tessitore has been hired to lead the College GameDay-spinoff Saturday pre-game show SEC Nation, which will also have former Gators QB Tim Tebow serving as a college football analyst.

Like Palmer, Tebow will contribute across other ESPN platforms as part of his three-year deal with the network.

16 Comments

  1. Ken (CA) says:

    Great get by the SEC channel. Jesse has been a really good analyst and announcer on ESPN. It’s a real shame that Comcast so far has said NO and hasn’t picked it up

      • Ken (CA) says:

        I hope so, but have little faith in Comcast. The put Big 10 on as soon as announced and have so far said “not iot in the near future, not currently negotiating” when asked. The Blaze channel has been trying to get on them for 2 years now and as large an audience as it has, Comcast won’t even listen to them.

  2. gatorboi352 says:

    Am I correct in understanding that Cox Cable won’t even be offering SEC Network?

  3. SWFL Joe says:

    The only thing Brent has done in the last 10 years (besides ramble incoherently) is launch the career of Katherine Webb.

  4. g8ter27 says:

    I think this sucks, never seen a former Gator be such a Gator hater.

  5. gator says:

    That sucks, palmer is a gator traitor. I like brent but will have to turn the sound off now. ps he sucked as a qb

  6. SaraGator says:

    I hope he spends some of his new contract $$ on a new wardrobe. His shirts look at least 2 sizes too small on him.

    • Gatorgrad79 says:

      What do you expect from a guy who went on The Bachelor show? He obviously has his shirts tailored to show off…

  7. Sam Andreu says:

    At least when he claims that a “unit” or specific player is the “best in the country” twice a quarter, a small percentage of the time it may actually be factual now… Dampens the Tebow hire a little bit.

  8. Gatorgrad79 says:

    Will be interesting dynamic if Palmer & Tebow do any work together (although they may not) as Palmer is so obviously jealous of Tim that he criticizes him publicly or belittles his accomplishments by comparing him to rather ordinary athletes whose names no one knows…

  9. G2 says:

    Musburger needs to hang it up soon. Only reason he’s lasted this long is Herbie reels him in and helps cover his mistakes. Gotta say I did love his infatuation with Mccarrons girlfriend, that was a classic moment.

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