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NBC announces analysts, other details for new B1G studio show

Spenser Davis

By Spenser Davis

Published:

NBC has announced details for its inaugural Big Ten studio show, which will anchor its coverage of the conference this fall.

Maria Taylor will host the show, which has been named “B1G College Countdown. Taylor will be joined by analysts Matt Cassel, Joshua Perry and Michael Robinson as well as co-host Ahmed Fareed.

B1G College Countdown plans to be on location at college campuses each week during the 2023 regular season. NBC’s first Big Ten game will be in Happy Valley for Penn State-West Virginia in Week 1.

“The college football atmosphere is unlike anything in sports and that’s why we’re going to be on campus every week with B1G College Countdown,” said NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood said in a statement. “Matt, Joshua, and Michael hail from three of the most fabled programs and energized scenes in college football – USC, Ohio State and Penn State, respectfully. Ahmed grew up in Big Ten country and has a deep passion for the sport and its fans. As the host of the NFL’s show of record and a two-sport collegiate athlete, Maria is the perfect choice to lead this new Saturday night tradition. We can’t wait to kick things off on September 2 from Happy Valley.”

Taylor also hosts NBC’s “Football Night In America” studio show, which leads into the NFL’s Sunday Night Football. She also has extensive time covering college football from her tenure at ESPN.

Cassel is a former NFL veteran quarterback who played college football at Big Ten-bound USC.

Perry is a former Big Ten Network analyst who played linebacker at Ohio State under coach Urban Meyer. He was on the Buckeyes’ National Championship team in 2014.

Robinson, a former full-back, played for Penn State and later won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.

Spenser Davis

Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.