Kirk Herbstreit calls out ESPN teammate Elle Duncan for open Georgia fandom, Duncan responds

It’s only fitting that some ESPN fireworks have been stirred up on the Fourth of July.

College Gameday panelist and ESPN College Football/Monday Night Football commentator Kirk Herbstreit joined the “Net Positive with John Crist” podcast earlier this week and revealed that he was critical of sports broadcasters that openly express their fandom, and specifically mentioned fellow ESPN teammates Pat McAfee, Stephen A. Smith and Elle Duncan as examples.

Herbstreit, who joined ESPN in 1995, has notoriously been against outwardly showing fandom/support for Ohio State although he played four seasons there from 1989-1993.

“I totally disagree with that,” Herbstreit said about sports personalities showing support for a certain team. “If you’re a personality like a Bill Simmons or Pat McAfee or like a Stephen A. Smith, part of their schtick is kind of that. Even on [College] Gameday, Pat is all about West Virginia. He’s always talking. I would never do that about Ohio State. Ever. That’s why a lot of Ohio State fans probably don’t care for me, because I treat them like every other team. If you’re calling games, it might be different if you’re in a studio, and let’s say you’re an Alabama fan and I’m calling an Ohio State–Alabama game, how the hell can you take what I say seriously if I’m sitting up there saying ‘we almost caught,’ like I would never.”

The former quarterback joins in on the tradition of picking games on the College Gameday set prior to the noon kickoff, but notoriously never picks between the teams playing in the game that he is calling that night.

“I don’t think you can cheer when you do games on a national level,” Herbie continued. “Guys that are in a studio show nationally, like when you watch SportsCenter and Elle Duncan is sitting there cheering for Georgia openly. I’m not a fan of that personally, like it hurts your credibility when that team is playing other teams. And then fans are looking at you like, you know.”

Duncan, an Atlanta native who has been with ESPN since 2016, swiftly responded to Herbstreit’s comments on X/Twitter Friday afternoon.

“Didn’t have this on my bingo card for today but my fandom doesn’t impact in any way what or how we talk about teams on air,” Duncan said. “Ever. I…JUST..BARK?? Also **whispers** I’m not the only one. So why I get singled out?”

Didn’t have this on my bingo card for today but my fandom doesn’t impact in any way what or how we talk about teams on air. Ever. I…JUST..BARK?? Also **whispers** I’m not the only one. So why I get singled out?

— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) July 4, 2025

Herbie’s comments weren’t malicious in any way, but he obviously feels very strong about his opinion.