Former college football great retires from NFL, joins NBC Sports’ Big Ten coverage

Former college football great retires from NFL, joins NBC Sports’ Big Ten coverage

The newly expanded Big Ten Conference will bring fans expanded game coverage in 2024.

NBC, CBS and Fox now split the conference’s television rights — which has created a full-day schedule every Saturday. It now includes a Fox Big Noon pregame show in the morning, into Fox Big Noon Kickoff, then to CBS’ Game of the Week in the afternoon and finally to NBC Saturday Night to close. Heightened interest and viewership means more investment into each broadcast. That has led NBC to make a new hire for its coverage team.

Related: Projecting Wisconsin Badgers two-deep depth chart heading into Week 4 of 2024 fall camp

That is former Texas Longhorn great and 13-year NFL veteran Colt McCoy.

McCoy announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday after a 13-year career. He was originally a third-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2010 NFL draft. The college football great spent 2010-12 in Cleveland, 2013 with the San Francisco 49ers, 2014-19 with Washington, 2020 with the New York Giants and 2021-22 with the Arizona Cardinals.

The 2008 Heisman Trophy runner-up and 2009 finalist did not match his exceptional collegiate production. He was mostly a backup during his career, though did finish with 36 total starts of 56 games played. His final NFL numbers include 62.6% completion, 7,975 yards, 34 touchdowns, 32 interceptions, a passer rating of 79.9, 582 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

McCoy starred from 2006-09 at Texas. His stature in the college game makes him a strong candidate for NBC’s coverage of the Big Ten. Texas went 45-8 during his tenure as starter, including a national title loss to Alabama in 2009. The program was ranked within the top 10 of the AP Poll for the majority of his tenure as starter, which, paired with Texas’ brand, elevated him to the top of the game.

His stats as a college starter include 70.3% completion, 13,253 yards, 112 touchdowns and 45 interceptions.

Wisconsin’s 2024 schedule does not yet have an NBC game. That is sure to change as the season progresses.

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