NBC to feature two Penn State icons on college football coverage

The 2023 season will be the beginning of the next chapter for the Penn State football team and the rest of the Big Ten conference, as teams will have their games aired on NBC, CBS, and FOX this fall. Earlier this offseason Penn State released some behind the scene photos on their social media pages which featured players such as Drew Allar, Abdul Carter, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Kaytron Allen, and Nick Singleton shooting the NBC Big Ten Saturday Night promo. The production will have a brand new pregame and broadcast crew which will two Penn State legends Todd Blackledge and Michael Robinson.

Big Ten Saturday Night will feature two former Penn State football QBs

Earlier this offseason it was announced by NBC Sports that the Big Ten Saturday Night broadcast crew will consist of Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter), and former Penn State QB Todd Blackledge (color analyst). This will be the beginning of the next chapter for the former Nittany Lion as he spent the last 17 years with ESPN as a color analyst for college football games.

During his Penn State career Todd Blackledge held an overall record of 31-5 and led the Nittany Lions to the 1982 National Championship where he was named the MVP of that game. He went on to become the 7th pick in the 1983 NFL draft as he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Recently, it was announced that another former Nittany Lion will be part of NBC’s pregame show, that is 2005 Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Year Michael Robinson.

Michael Robinson to join the B1G College Countdown this fall

The other former Penn State football QB that will be part of the NBC Big Ten Saturday Night pregame show is Michael Robinson. He has spent his career after football severing as an analyst on the NFL Network and he has most recently been part of NBC Sports USFL coverage.

Host @MariaTaylor, analysts Matt Cassel, Joshua Perry, and Michael Robinson, and co-host Ahmed Fareed will anchor B1G College Countdown this fall on NBC and @peacock … @ahmedNBC @RIP_JEP https://t.co/3ZDjheWIIv pic.twitter.com/uT9S1eQwbx

— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) July 20, 2023

Just like NBC’s well-known Football Night in America which is a pregame show that takes place before Sunday Night football in the NFL, the B1G College Countdown pregame show will follow a similar format. Interviews with players, recapping games around the country, and providing insights on the game at halftime. Michael Robinson will be joined by Maria Taylor, Matt Cassel, and Joshua Perry on B1g College Countdown.

Robinson was a true Swiss army knife during his time at Penn State. He played quarterback, running back, and even wide receiver during his career in the Blue and White. Most notably Michael Robinson helped lead Penn State to the 2005 Big Ten Championship and a triple-overtime victory over Florida State to win the 2005 Orange Bowl.

He went on to be drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft by the San Fransico 49ers. He was converted full-time to running back / full back during his NFL career. Robinson secured a Super Bowl ring with the Seattle Seahawks when they defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII.

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