ESPN is giving fans an unprecedented level of access this college football season.
Viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at how replay reviews work in ACC games.
ESPN is implementing a new system for 2025 college football broadcasts[/caption]
ACC games will allow fans to hear referee conversations during replay reviews[/caption]
This season, ESPN’s Friday night ACC games and ACC Network’s prime-time Saturday broadcasts will let viewers hear what goes on during a replay review.
Audio from the on-field referee, press-box replay official, and the league’s command center will be aired to viewers, according to David Teel of the Virginian-Pilot.
Command center staff like Al Riveron and Mark Bitar will also be heard in the reviews.
It is a never-before-seen broadcast feature that will certainly allow fans to better understand why certain calls go certain ways.
The decision to implement the officials’ audio into broadcasts seemingly stems from two Miami games that ended on official reviews last season.
The games took place against Virginia Tech and Cal, and both reviews ended up in Miami’s favor.
In the first game, Virginia Tech hurled a Hail Mary that appeared to be a walk-off win.
However, it was overturned after six minutes of reviews and no explanation was given.
In the Cal game, a targeting call was waived off against Miami, giving them a chance to make a game-winning drive.
Those two games received an extreme amount of backlash, prompting the ACC and ESPN to discuss how to make reviews more transparent.
According to Teel, the idea came about during a production meeting.
The original thought was to allow ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin to hear the officials’ conversations.
The idea was tested last season and worked well, so it was committed to 2025.
“We really have nothing to hide,” Michael Strickland, the ACC’s senior associate commissioner for football, told the Pilot.
“We’ve always been clear about who’s in the room and who’s authorized to get involved in officiating.”
The new system won’t be in place for every ACC game, but it is a welcome change for fans.
It is part of a wider push between ESPN and the ACC to modernize its college football coverage.
Fans of ACC teams are thrilled to see this change coming to games and shared their thoughts on social media.
“The ACC Replay Reviews last year were some of the most questionable I’ve seen in years. This will hopefully help with the transparency and integrity,” one fan said.
“About time,” another fan said.
“A good move by the ACC,” a third fan said.
“Everyone should follow suit,” a fourth fan said.
