The new SEC on ABC theme is here (and it's a throwback)

There was some confusion a few weeks ago when ESPN unveiled an anthem for the SEC on ABC, a new rendition of “Fly Away” by Lenny Kravitz and Quavo, which turned out to be the theme song of the marketing campaign. This morning, ESPN dropped the real SEC on ABC theme song, and it’s also a throwback.

The Worldwide Leader dipped into the vault and revamped the old ESPN College Football theme from the early 2000s, which will introduce the SEC game of the week every Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. All 16 schools get some love in the minute-and-a-half clip, which also shows off the new graphics package.

“Music is a crucial element in shaping the storytelling of any broadcast,” said ESPN president of content Burke Magnus in a press release. “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.”

“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 SEC on ABC kicks off Saturday with No. 19 Miami at Florida (3:30 p.m.) and No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M (7:30 p.m.). After opening the season vs. Southern Miss (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network), Kentucky will get its turn in the ABC spotlight in Weeks 2 and 3 vs. South Carolina (Sept. 7, 3:30 p.m.) and Georgia (Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m.).

There’s no topping the SEC on CBS theme, which now belongs to the Big Ten as the SEC’s deal with CBS wrapped up, but I appreciate ESPN reaching for nostalgia. Maybe it’ll grow on me.

SEC Week 1 Schedule

SEC Football starts TONIGHT with Missouri vs. Murray State and Arkansas vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Here’s the schedule for Week 1 so you can plan accordingly.

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Platform
Thu, Aug 29	7:30 p.m.	Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas (from Little Rock)	ESPNU
	8 p.m.	Murray State at No. 11 Missouri	SEC Network
Fri, Aug 30	7 p.m.	Temple at No. 16 Oklahoma	ESPN
Sat, Aug 31	Noon	No. 14 Clemson vs. No. 1 Georgia (from Atlanta)	ABC
	Noon	Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt	ESPN
	12:45 p.m.	Chattanooga at No. 15 Tennessee	SEC Network
	3:30 p.m.	No. 19 Miami at Florida	ABC
	3:30 p.m.	Colorado State at No. 4 Texas	ESPN
	4:15 p.m.	Old Dominion at South Carolina	SEC Network
	6 p.m.	Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State	ESPN+/SECN+
	7 p.m.	Western Kentucky at Alabama	ESPN
	7 p.m.	Furman at No. 6 Ole Miss	ESPN+/SECN+
	7:30 p.m.	No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M	ABC
	7:30 p.m.	Alabama A&M at Auburn	ESPN+/SECN+
	7:45 p.m.	Southern Miss at Kentucky	SEC Network
Sun, Sep 1	7:30 p.m.	No. 23 USC vs. No. 13 LSU (from Las Vegas)	ABC