A New Anthem Signals the Return of College Football
ESPN has tapped Shaboozey’s latest single "High Noon," a collaboration with rapper Gunna, to serve as the official anthem for the 2026 college football season. The track, pulled from Shaboozey’s recently released album The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, will kick off the network’s coverage with a high‑energy video that blends game highlights, roaring crowds and snippets from last year’s broadcasts.
The anthem will be rolled out across ESPN’s family of channels — including ESPN, ABC and the SEC Network — and will be underscored by voice‑overs from familiar faces such as Chris Fowler, Rece Davis, Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit. Their commentary frames the song as more than a musical cue, positioning it as a rallying cry that captures the excitement of the upcoming schedule.
For Shaboozey, the placement is a validation of the song’s place in his evolving catalogue. He noted that hearing "High Noon" echo through stadiums and living rooms alike adds a new layer of tradition to the college‑football experience, linking his Western‑flavored sound with the pageantry of the sport.
Maggie Lewin, ESPN’s director of marketing, described the anthem as a seasonal touchstone that signals the return of college football to fans’ calendars. "It’s a moment that brings together music, sport and community," she said, emphasizing the network’s intent to make the track a staple of the broadcast experience.
The first live airing of the anthem is slated for August 29 at noon ET, coinciding with the Week 0 matchup between North Carolina and TCU in Dublin. That debut will set the tone for a season that promises to blend tradition with fresh cultural influences.