Don’t expect to see a concrete replacement for Maria Taylor on ESPN’s College Gameday this fall. Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports reports the network will use a cast of talent to fulfill Taylor’s open hosting duties.
Jen Lada and Gene Wojciechowski feature more prominently this season but will remain in their essayist roles. Those stories are being expanded for the pair after Tom Rinaldi jumped over to Fox Sports and Taylor left ESPN for NBC.
“There are no immediate plans to replace that role,” ESPN told Front Office Sports in a statement. “We look forward to kicking off the 35th season of College GameDay with our talented crew, including Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, David Pollack, Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica, and reporters Jen Lada and Gene Wojciechowski.”
Wojciechowski has been with the network for almost a decade. The veteran journalist started at ESPN in 2012 and puts together feature packages regularly for College Gameday. Lada has been a part of the show since 2016 while also appearing on ESPN Radio, Outside the Lines, E:60, and SC Featured.
ESPN has already announced Holly Rowe as Taylor’s sideline replacement on Saturday Night Football.
“When they told me, I just started crying because I’ve been obsessed with college football my entire life,” Rowe said about the opportunity. “It’s a dream come true, and I’m thankful to my bosses for this opportunity. I’m starting my 26th season covering games on ABC and ESPN, and it’s been long years filled with hard work. I’m excited to join what’s been established as the best team in college football with Chris (Fowler) and Kirk (Herbstreit), and I hope to be the world’s best teammate to them.
College Gameday starts the 2021 season with a trip to the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff on Aug. 28.