Behind The Mic: John Fanta Finalizes Move to NBC; ESPN Gears Up for Fall of Football With NFL, CFB Announce Teams

Behind The Mic: John Fanta Finalizes Move to NBC; ESPN Gears Up for Fall of Football With NFL, CFB Announce TeamsBy SVG Staff

Friday, September 5, 2025 - 8:00 am

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Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, John Fanta makes a move to NBC, ESPN is getting set for their respective NFL and college football seasons with talent, and more.

John Fanta Joins NBC Sports as Men's Basketball Play-by-Play Voice on Peacock and NBCPlay-by-play commentator and reporter John Fanta has joined NBC Sports to call men's college basketball games across Peacock and NBC. Fanta will serve as NBC Sports' lead BIG EAST play-by-play voice and will call Big Ten and Big 12 men's games.

It's an absolute thrill to join the NBC Sports family in full force and I couldn't be more excited to jump right in this week on college football game breaks, says Fanta. In the world of college basketball, to play a role in the soundtrack of NBC Sports' coverage, featuring some of the biggest games and best atmospheres across the country, is a joy for the sport that I got my start in. As a young sports fan growing up on the west side of Cleveland, I admired the many voices across NBC Sports' coverage. To join this fantastic team of people is a blessing and I can't wait to get started.

Fanta will additionally contribute to NBC Sports' college football coverage in the fall, providing game break updates throughout coverage of the Big Ten and Notre Dame on NBC and Peacock. He will also occasionally serve as a reporter on NBC Sports' coverage of the NBA.

Last season, Fanta called numerous men's basketball games on Peacock and served as a reporter for NBC Sports' five BIG EAST Men's Basketball Tournament games.

We're excited for John to join NBC Sports and call games across our deep portfolio of college basketball, says Rick Cordella, President, NBC Sports. With big-time action across the BIG EAST, Big Ten, and Big 12, I know John's passion and enthusiasm for the game matches that of the fanbase's and will continue to elevate our college basketball production.

A graduate of Seton Hall University, Fanta has called men's and women's college basketball games for FOX Sports since 2018. He also has covered the NBA Draft among other events for NBA Broadcasting since 2023 while also doing select games for CBS Sports Network since 2022. He contributes to college basketball coverage in a number of capacities, including as a podcast host on The Field of 68 Media Network and as a host for the BIG EAST Digital Network. Fanta was honored as the Rising Star Award winner by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association in 2024 and was named on The Athletic's 40 Under 40: Rising Stars in Men's College Basketball list.

ESPN's NFL Studio Lineup Introduces Vibrant Personalities and Enhanced Onsite Programming for the 2025 NFL Season

ESPN's NFL studio lineup returns for the 2025 season, adding new, vibrant voices to established casts that include multiple Super Bowl Champions. ESPN's long-established pregame shows - Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown - are back, as is ESPN's iconic highlights program, NFL Primetime. NFL Live is set to travel to more game sites this season, following an award-winning campaign in 2024. NFL Matchup and NFL Turning Point will return, providing a preview and review of each week. Everything kicks off with a special Prediction Bonanza on the first day of the NFL season as the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, CA begins.

Monday Night Countdown and NFL Live to Originate from Monday Night Football Location

Monday Night Countdown, presented by ESPN Bet Sportsbook, will originate from the site of Monday Night Football most weeks. The two-hour pregame show (6-8 p.m. ET) will recap Sunday's action and set the table for the final game of the week. Ryan Clark, Jason Kelce, and Marcus Spears, along with host Scott Van Pelt, are together for a second consecutive season. Michelle Beisner-Buck's storytelling through features and interviews remains a core part of the show. Adam Schefter will join multiple segments every week.

Monday Night Countdown will have a special 5 p.m. start time in Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 7, the four weeks when Monday Night Football airs multiple games on the same night.

New this year, NFL Live will regularly originate from the location of Monday Night Football. For the second consecutive season, it will extend to two hours on Mondays (3-5 p.m. ET). Clark, Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky, and Spears will join host Laura Rutledge, as well as Peter Schrager, who will be a regular on Monday's shows this season. Schefter, a constant on the show throughout the week, will also appear. NFL Live, coming off its Sports Emmy Award win for Outstanding Studio Show-Daily, begins its sixth season with its current cast. From Tuesday through Friday, the show will air in its traditional timeslot, 4-5 p.m. Monday Night Football Week 1 will be in Chicago for an NFC North showdown between the Vikings and Bears. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, and Rutledge will be on the call at 8 p.m. (ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes), with Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli on ESPN2.

Sunday NFL Countdown Embarks on 41st Season

Sunday NFL Countdown, presented by Snickers, returns on September 7 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.), ahead of the first full slate of NFL Week 1 games. The premier pregame show embarks on its 41st NFL season. Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss, Rex Ryan, Alex Smith, and host Mike Greenberg all return for their second season together. Schefter, who has been an integral part of the show since joining ESPN i

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