September 1995, the date when Kirk Herbstreit started his career as a broadcaster. So, it has been almost three decades since we see Herbstreit in front of the microphone. Maybe that’s why the fans have forgotten about his other persona. Herbstreit did turn heads with some gridiron action playing as the quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

However, his stint at Columbus was a short one between 1989 and 1993. Now the ESPN commentator faces a hypothetical question. Answering this Herbstreit did reveal some unknown facts about his Ohio State stint dominated by family pressure. 

Kirk Herbstreit’s initial steps in Columbus 

Kirk Herbstreit backed up starters Greg Frey and Kent Graham in his first three seasons. Post which he earned the position as the starter and co-captain ahead of the 1992-93 season. The former quarterback’s career-best performance was his lone start against Michigan in “The Game.”

In that heroic feat, he racked up 28 passes for 271 yards. This was a program record until eventual Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith completed 29 passes against Michigan later in 2006. Now these numbers are known to most Buckeyes fans. But here are some unknown insights about what propelled Herbstreit to be desperate about playing for the Buckeyes.

On the March 20th episode of the Pure Athlete podcast, host Brit Lee hit the College GameDay host with a ‘what if,’ question. “I’m curious if you have thought about if what’s happening today with transfer portal. We’ll set NIL aside. Do you think that would have been your route if the transfer portal and all that was the way it is today back in the day?”

On that note, Herbstreit chose to drop a bomb. “First for me, I was brainwashed…Ohio State to me was everything.” Now the reason for his blind love?

It probably must be his father, Jim Herbstreit, who was a co-captain (along with offensive tackle Jim Tyrer) of the 1960 Ohio State team. So, growing up, seeing his dad donning the Buckeyes jersey did plant the seeds of early interest in Kirk Herbstreit’s heart.

“My dad played there, and I grew up in Ohio.” The passion got 10x when he wore Archie Griffin’s, the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner’s helmet during practice and kept praying for a chance in the Buckeyes squad. However, soon, his honeymoon period was over when he realized the stark difference in college football offense. Back in high school, he was a triple option, and Ohio State’s offense was a seven-step, five-step through from the pocket.

Herbstreit recalled, “Those first three years man, my wheels were spinning. I was a fish out of water. I thought about leaving, I thought about playing just baseball, I was struggling, I was depressed. My dream that I thought about my whole life was slipping through my fingers.” However, his dad asked him to hold on a little longer.

He still thanks him. “My dad really was good about challenging me and not allowing me to become that negative kind of cancer in the clubhouse cancer, in the locker room kind of guy … he said just give it another spring.”

After which, the ex-QB was free to take whichever path he wished for. After all these years, Herbstreit’s love for the Buckeyes still runs strong. 

Kirk’s strong stand for Ryan Day

Do you remember the time when Herbstreit got into a verbal scuffle with fellow commentators Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe? It all started with the Buckeyes’ big 42-17 win against the Tennessee Volunteers on December 21. By then, the Ohio State HC had already been sitting in the hot seat after their Michigan loss. So after this victory, Kirk Herbstreit pointed fingers at all the Day’s haters- Sharpe and Smith included. 

“’First Take’ tried to fire him. They thought he was done, so I’ll be excited to see what they talk about on Monday after this performance. They had him out and were trying to find replacements, but here he is. He’s still got his hat on, and he’s still coaching,” he said. 

Initially, he was alone to take a stand for Day. Later on, he got the support of his fellow colleague Chris Fowler. That’s how sad the reality is for Day. Despite saving his seat with the national championship trophy, threats didn’t stop coming Day’s way.

Kirk Herbstreit had landed in too much trouble with his “lunatic fringe” tag to the Buckeyes fanbase. Even then, he did not think twice before taking a stand for Ryan Day. On the Built 4 More podcast, the ESPN analyst opened up, “What’s happened is Ryan Day, as the head coach, Ohio State fans are just so trained that, that game is like a game by itself,” Herbstreit explained.

“No matter what happens before, no matter what happens after, that game—you know, with Woody Hayes and all the legacy stuff and the history of it—and that fan base has been indoctrinated into thinking you better win that game,” he concluded.

Kirk Herbstreit’s loyalty to Ryan Day and Ohio State remains unshaken, despite a turbulent past and a long separation.