In less than two weeks, we will be watching real-life college football again. A while ago, I asked our writer’s room about their favorite college football theme songs which immediately set off a wave of nostalgia. Since we are fast approaching the season, I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back on many of the college football network theme songs of the past 25 years.

Not every single theme will be here as I doubt anyone cares that much about the ACC Network or Longhorn Network. Furthermore this is just my opinion so feel free to disagree, I promise you won’t hurt my feelings unless you dislike the first Notre Dame football on NBC theme.

ABC

First up is ABC which has been the vanguard of primetime college football for as long as I can remember.

1999-2006 (Regular Season/Saturday Night Football)

The OG college football theme for many and this baby sounds soooo late-90s/early-2000s. I’m a big fan of the rhythm and beat of this one, it almost reminds me of a breaking news segment on CNN. I instantly think about the 2002 Notre Dame football team and going to New York for updates from John Saunders (RIP).

1998-2011 (BCS and eventually Saturday Night Football)

This is some good stuff right here. I always loved how epic and regal ABC BCS theme sounded, it was truly fit for the biggest stage. After the 2005 regular season ABC decided to get rid of the OG theme and just used this one for Saturday Night Football which was a-okay in my book. We eventually got a shortened version by 2011 that sounded just as good.

2012-2014

For me, ABC’s final BCS and Saturday Night Football theme was their best effort. It’s pretty much the same as their last theme except with the epic-ness cranked up to 11. Everything about it sounds so majestic and it’s such a shame we only got this for two and a half seasons. Following the 2014 regular season, ABC began using ESPN’s new CFP Playoff theme for everything but I still hold out hope that we will once again hear this beauty.

CBS

1987 to Present

When it comes to sports theme songs, CBS is the Costco $1.50 hot dog of network TV. They found something good and have stuck with it throughout the years.  This timeless tune has been around since 1987 and was originally composed for Super Bowl XXI before one smart executive decided it sounded way better when paired with college football. When CBS acquired the SEC’s TV rights, this theme essentially became the official song of the conference.

As such, this upcoming season will be the last time that will be the case. ESPN and ABC are set take the reigns in the SEC starting in 2024 while CBS is moving on to the Big Ten. Fortunately, it has already been confirmed that this theme will remain to serenade you in your living room for the foreseeable future.

ESPN

Nobody changes themes as often as the WorldWide Leader in Sports™. Altogether, this is a musical library with varying degrees of success.

2000-2003

This is a good, solid theme thanks to the lively rhythm and triumphant trumpets. This is one of the first themes I can remember  actually incorporating college marching band instruments which are now prevalent in most network CFB jingles. This was a good start and it only got better from here because it led to this…

ESPN 2004-2009

This theme was my childhood more than anything else on this list. It’s similar to ESPN’s first effort but adding the snare drums was a tremendous decision. That along with the frenetic pace just screams college football to me. I’m instantly reminded of Thursday night games between Virginia Tech and Boston College at Lane Stadium with a pre-Musburger retirement Chris Fowler on the call. Man, I really miss this one.

2010-2014

For many, this is ESPN’s best college football theme but I can’t go that far. It’s good but a bit less hardcore than the 2004-2009 theme which is why I can’t count this as my favorite. In my opinion this one has gained staying power because it’s prominently featured in NCAA Football 14. Speaking of which, thank GOD we are finally getting a sequel after all these years. You can only leave Akron for the ND job so many times.

2015-2019

Another solid theme, but unlike the others this one got old for me. It had a great introduction in the first CFB Playoff game (seriously, how come ESPN or ABC never did an intro like this again?) before ESPN somewhat ran it into the ground. I think having this become the one and only theme for the regular season, bowl season, and playoff games was a mistake. It’s simply not strong enough to have the type of longevity the CBS theme has achieved.

2020-Present

I hate to say it, but this one sucks. I really don’t like the chorus which seems out of place for a college football theme and overall this is a less compelling version of the old ESPN theme. Hopefully we will get an updated and improved version for the expanded playoff.

FOX Sports

2000-2012 (Fox Sports Net)

Fox didn’t really jump whole hog into college football until 2011, delegating a lot of Big 12 and Pac-10 games to Fox Sports Net. Growing up, FSN felt like the hipster CFB network where you could watch as much Oregon State or Kansas football as you wanted. This theme is a good pairing with the hipster vibe because it sounds unique compared to other networks.

2007-2010 (Fox)

Fox won the rights to broadcast the BCS National Championship game along with the other BCS bowl games starting in 2007 and unveiled this theme that same year. Needless to say, I’m a fan. It’s got the marching band snare drums that I like and a pretty epic chorus. The first memory that pops into my head when I hear this is the Boise State-Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl so this one has nostalgic staying power for me.

Fox 2012-Present

On its own, this isn’t a bad theme. It sounds like college football and the music itself is plenty lively. However, using the NFL on Fox theme as inspiration is sooooooooo lameeeeeeee. I really hope Fox ditches this one soon and comes out with something more unique, but I won’t get my hopes up since they’ve already revived the corpse of “Roundball Rock” for their college basketball broadcasts. Quit copying other people’s homework, guys.

NBC

Ah NBC, our favorite carrier of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football. The National Broadcasting Company has a mixed record when it comes to composing themes for its flagship university, with one of the best bangers ever as well as a super boring effort.

1991 to 2005

I don’t care if I’m called a homer, this is one of the greatest things I’ve ever heard. NBC’s original theme for Notre Dame football was an instant classic and still gives me goosebumps to this day. The electric guitar playing the Victory March is epic and invokes a real sense of excitement. I also love the supremely old school graphics which matches Notre Dame’s football past. We were lucky to have this one as long as we did.

2006-2008

I don’t hate this theme, but it’s just so blah. Everything about this is a huge downgrade from NBC’s first attempt. Gone is the electric guitar which gets your heart pumping, replaced instead by a softer, off-brand version of the Victory March. The graphics are also a major disappointment, playing highlights inside little boxes that fly past the screen doesn’t do it for me. ND was also 20-18 in the three seasons this theme was featured which is another reason why I don’t exactly have fond memories of it.

2009 – Present

This is a massive improvement. Whereas the previous theme was lame enough to put someone to sleep if you listened to it on a loop, this one brings back some of the excitement. In many ways, this is the theme of the Brian Kelly era at Notre Dame. In recent years, NBC has sidelined this theme a lot and instead lead in with whatever song is popular at the time. With NBC now dipping its toe into Big Ten football this fall, we’ll see whether ND’s theme changes anytime soon.

As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments and just hold for a little while longer. We’re almost to the season.