Kelly, Pederson Join CBS Football
Brian Kelly, Doug Pederson Join CBS Sports as College Football Analysts for 2026 Season
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Key Points
1
Kelly will contribute to CBS Sports HQ in addition to his on-air roles, expanding his CBS duties beyond studio and color work.
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Kelly's Week 2 and Week 3 Pac-12 assignments include Texas Tech at Oregon State (Week 2) and BYU at Colorado State (Week 3), both on CBS.
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Doug Pederson will call 10 games in the CBS Sports Network booth this fall as part of the new college football analyst lineup.
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CW Network announced its 2026 broadcast teams for ACC, Mountain West, and Pac-12 football, with Thom Brennaman as play-by-play, Jason Cabinda as booth analyst, and Wes Bryant as sideline.
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Kelly previously appeared on CBS Sports Network’s NFL Draft coverage this spring as part of his broadcasting audition for CBS.
CBS Sports is adding two high-profile former coaches to its college football broadcast lineup for 2026. The network has officially hired Brian Kelly and Doug Pederson as analysts, according to Awful Announcing and CBS Sports.
Kelly, who was fired by LSU in October 2025 after a 34-14 record, will work as a studio analyst and color commentator. Pederson, a Super Bowl-winning NFL coach, will call 10 games on CBS Sports Network this fall, Head Topics reported.
Kelly's Debut Set for Week 0 in Fargodome
Kelly's first game in the booth is scheduled for August 29. He will call Jacksonville State versus North Dakota State at the Fargodome, according to DL-Online. It will be North Dakota State's first FBS game ever televised from that venue.
After his debut, Kelly moves to Pac-12 games. In Week 2, he calls Texas Tech at Oregon State on CBS. In Week 3, he gets BYU at Colorado State. He will also appear on CBS Sports Network's college football coverage every Tuesday throughout the season.
Kelly's Path From LSU Firing to Broadcasting Audition
Kelly spent decades coaching without a significant break. He built powerhouse programs at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame before taking the LSU job in 2021. LSU let him go in October 2025 after his program's trajectory slipped.
He wasted little time exploring broadcasting. This spring, Kelly appeared on CBS Sports Network's NFL Draft coverage as a tryout of sorts. Yahoo Sports noted that performance helped land him the full analyst role for 2026. He will also contribute to CBS Sports HQ, expanding his duties beyond the studio and the booth.
Pederson Brings Super Bowl Pedigree to the Booth
Doug Pederson is the other major hire. He led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl title after the 2017 season and later coached the Jacksonville Jaguars. CBS Sports is putting him in the booth for 10 games on CBS Sports Network this fall, according to Awful Announcing.
The move fits a broader CBS Sports strategy. The network is leaning on coaches with big name recognition to draw viewers. Both Kelly and Pederson bring instant credibility to a college football broadcast landscape that is growing more competitive each season.
CW Network Also Unveils 2026 College Football Broadcast Teams
CBS Sports is not the only network reshuffling its talent. The CW Network announced its 2026 broadcast teams for ACC, Mountain West, and Pac-12 football. Thom Brennaman will handle play-by-play duties. Jason Cabinda will serve as booth analyst, and Wes Bryant will work the sideline, according to Awful Announcing.
Together, these moves signal a wider shakeup in college football broadcasting heading into 2026. Networks are racing to lock up recognizable faces as the sport's media rights landscape keeps shifting and new conference deals create more inventory to fill.
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