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Kirk Herbstreit’s dog Ben steals the show in college football

While a huge crowd is always expected for “College GameDay,” at least some of the morning show’s audience shows up for a furry employee.

ESPN Kirk Herbstreit’s dog, Ben, travels with the GameDay host every week, bringing his warm presence to college football fans across the country. Ben, a golden retriever, began to carve a special place in the hearts of football fans during the 2023 season.

Ben traveled with Herbstreit for the first time last season when the Oregon Ducks faced the Washington Huskies on October 14. Herbstreit, concerned about Ben coming along, was unsure until Ben expressed that he was built for the college football environment.

Ben also embodies courage. In March he was diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer of blood-forming tissues that reduces the body’s ability to fight infection. According to Herbstreit, Ben had to undergo major surgery in July to remove two cancerous tumors on his spleen and intestine.

Herbstreit says what has helped Ben in his recovery process is allowing the 10-year-old golden retriever to see fans on the road.

Here are some of Herbstreit and Ben’s best moments from the 2024 college football season.

Berkley, California
October 5

The California Golden Bears hosted College GameDay for the first time in history, putting Ben in the Pacific time zone. They say the early bird gets the worm, and Ben showed that perfectly.

On site, Ben is always the main attraction and knows how to steal the show. Cal fans couldn’t get enough of Ben.


Tuscaloosa, AL
September 28

From the looks of it, Ben was a fan of the way the GameDay crew handled Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels heading into their game against the Kentucky Wildcats. But Ben gets what he craves when he wants to be petted, even if it’s on set.

Just like the 50-meter line, Ben is the center of attention. For Ben, there is no better feeling than the fresh grass at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Watch out, Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide, the real “linebarker” is in the building.


Norman, Okla
September 21

No one does it better than Ben. In preparation to steal the show before the Tennessee Volunteers took on the Oklahoma Sooners, Ben had to test the turf to make sure it was in good condition. Only the best in the business get these credentials, and Ben is definitely that guy.


Ann Arbor, Michigan
September 7

Who works harder than Ben? Nobody. Ben was assigned a ‘working’ rating for the Michigan Wolverines’ matchup against the Texas Longhorns.


Vegas
September 1

The LSU Tigers and USC Trojans had high hopes for the college football season. However, Ben raised the bar even higher with his performance during the pregame show.