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Gary Danielson retirement: CBS names replacement for 2026 and beyond
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Gary Danielson is retiring from his role at CBS at the end of the 2025 season, he announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Danielson has been a key college football voice for a generation of fans. The 2025 campaign will be his 36th on television overall and his 20th with CBS. However, it will also be his final year on the airwaves.
Stepping into his role on CBS will be Charles Davis, the network confirmed on Wednesday. Davis is a CBS Sports veteran who will now call marquee Big Ten games each week for the network beginning in 2026. He’s expected to continue in his role as an NFL analyst with CBS for the 2025-26 season.
“Gary has been the preeminent voice in college football for decades, and someone I have long admired and respected,” Davis said in a press release. “It is hard to imagine college football Saturdays without him, but I am thrilled we get one last season with him. There is no replacing Gary, but I am truly honored and humbled to succeed him and call games with Brad Nessler and the incredible Big Ten on CBS team.”
Davis moved to CBS as an NFL analyst back in 2020, but previously called college football games with FOX. He’s called multiple BCS National Championship Games in his broadcasting career.
As a player, Davis starred for Tennessee as a defensive back from 1983-86.
“For the past two decades Charles has been among the best analysts across the NFL and college football,” CBS Sports president David Berson said in a statement. “He’s well known to fans, from calling college football national championships, to NFL playoff games, to the voice of Madden NFL. We’re thrilled Charles will be returning to his roots — college football — and calling our top Big Ten game each week.”
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.