Brad Nessler Bradley " Brad " Nessler ( born June 3 , 1956 ) is an American sportscaster , who currently calls college basketball and college football games for ESPN with occasional appearances on ESPN on ABC . He has also called " Thursday Night Football " on NFL Network since 2011 , and appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports ' " NCAA Football " . Also , his voice ( and that of his broadcast partner , Dick Vitale ) was featured in EA Sports ' " NCAA March Madness " video game series . Career . Early assignments . Nessler began his professional broadcasting career sharing play - by - play radio duties with Al Ciraldo on Georgia Tech basketball on WGST - AM from 1980 - 81 through 1984 - 85 , and handled the play - by - play for the Atlanta Falcons from 1982 to 1988 on WGST and WSB - AM before assuming the same position for the Minnesota Vikings during the 1988 and 1989 seasons . He also called preseason telecasts for the Miami Dolphins for several years , and has done play - by - play of ACC football and basketball telecasts for Jefferson - Pilot . CBS Sports . In 1990 and 1991 , Nessler worked for CBS Sports , calling NFL games , college football , and college basketball ( both men ' s and women ' s college basketball ) . ESPN and ABC Sports . Nessler ' s career with ESPN began in 1992 and expanded with the addition of ABC Sports assignments in 1997 . From 2002 – 04 , Nessler was a broadcaster for the NBA , including calling the 2003 NBA Finals . During this particular period , Nessler was accused ( among them , the " New York Times " Richard Sandomir ) of not knowing game strategy well , lacking rhythm and enthusiasm in his game call , not bringing out the best in his partners ( i . e . Bill Walton and Tom Tolbert ) , too often ignoring the score , and tending to stammer . When Nessler began calling college football for ABC in 1997 he was regarded as the # 3 play - by - play man behind Keith Jackson and Brent Musburger . He was promoted to # 2 upon Jackson ' s scaling back to West Coast games in 1999 , and was the # 1 Saturday afternoon play - by - play man from 2006 until the 2008 season . In July 2009 , ESPN announced that Nessler would move to the top play - by - play man for ESPN ' s coverage of college football , being primarily responsible for ESPN ' s " Saturday Primetime " game airing at 7 : 45 PM Eastern Time . He originally worked with Gary Danielson as his college football color man when he began working for ABC in 1997 , but from 1999 - 2008 called games alongside Bob Griese ( who traded positions with Danielson ) . Starting in 2006 , Paul Maguire joined Nessler and Griese as a third color commentator for the Saturday afternoon college telecasts . Upon the announcement of Nessler ' s move to ESPN ' s " Saturday Primetime " telecasts , it was also announced that he would be teamed with former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge and sideline reporter Erin Andrews beginning with the 2009 college football season ; this crew also called the January 1 , 2010 Capital One Bowl on ABC . Since 2006 , Nessler has provided play - by - play for SEC games on " Super Tuesday " , alongside Jimmy Dykes or Dick Vitale and sideline reporter Heather Cox . The duo also covers Saturday afternoon games for ESPN during the regular college basketball season , and previously appeared on ABC . On September 11 , 2006 , ESPN began its coverage of " Monday Night Football " with a Week 1 doubleheader . Nessler teamed with Ron Jaworski , Dick Vermeil , and Bonnie Bernstein to call the second game , featuring the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders . On September 13 , 2010 , Nessler again worked a " Monday Night Football " game , teaming with Trent Dilfer and Suzy Kolber to call the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs in the second game of that night ' s Week 1 doubleheader . On September 12 , 2011 , Nessler and Dilfer called the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos in the second game of the Week 1 doubleheader ; the game included a 63 - yard field goal kicked by Oakland ' s Sebastian Janikowski , which tied an NFL record . NFL Network . In May 2011 , Nessler was hired by NFL Network to call its " Thursday Night Football " telecasts . Nessler will team with analyst Mike Mayock for the eight - game package . When Thursday Night Football expanded to thirteen games , he continues to work for Thursday Night Football . Personal . Nessler is a graduate of Minnesota State University , Mankato . He is married to Nancy , and his daughter , Reis Nessler , attended Valdosta State University .