The SEC has not felt the same in the year since the deal with CBS has expired and fans across the South have had to watch their schools play on the ESPN family of networks.
One of the more iconic pieces of what made that broadcast so special for so many years was the chemistry between the commentators, both play-by-play men Verne Lundquist and after his retirement Brad Nessler along with color analyst Gary Danielson.
Even with the network no longer broadcasting SEC games, the pair of Nessler and Danielson has been calling Big-10 games for the past year and this upcoming season.
Danielson however has announced that the upcoming season will be his last as he prepares to retire.
NEWS: CBS Sports’ Gary Danielson will retire following the 2025 football season🐐
Charles Davis will succeed Danielson in 2026.https://t.co/lR7SOlEQDF pic.twitter.com/IWlMVQG8Nl
— On3 (@On3sports) March 26, 2025
“I have had the greatest seat in the house for 36 years and have loved every minute of it,” Danielson said in a release confirming the news.
“I have discussed the timing of this moment with CBS Sports leadership over the past few years and we felt it was important I remained with the team during our transition to the Big Ten. As we enter our second full season of Big Ten football and my 20th at CBS Sports, the timing just feels right. I have so much respect for Charles Davis as both a person and an analyst. He is going to shine in this role and fit so well with this team. I have been blessed to work with incredible teammates throughout my career and I look forward to one more memorable season with Brad, Jenny, Craig Silver, Steve Milton and the crew.”
Danielson has always been a polarizing figure among fans in the SEC, with virtually all of them convinced that he dislikes their school for whatever reason.
Now that he is no longer calling SEC games however and soon to be no longer calling college football games at all, most of those same fans will look back fondly on all the memories associated with both him and the SEC on CBS.
