ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit leaves in the middle of “College GameDay” to call Texas-Oklahoma, 2,000 miles away

Kirk Herbstreit’s “Wild Ride” will be one of the craziest days of his career.

The lead color commentator for ABC’s college football broadcasts began his day in Eugene, Oregon, as co-host of “College GameDay.”

The GameDay team, missing 89-year-old Lee Corso for the second straight game, was assembled in Oregon for Saturday night’s game between the third-ranked Ducks and No. 2 Ohio State.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

There was a slight problem, however – the game, since it was a Big Ten contest, was broadcast on NBC, and ABC’s main game was the Red River Rivalry between No. 1 Texas and No. 18 Oklahoma (it was on ABC transmitted). .

Herbstreit normally broadcasts the game at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, but this assignment was four hours earlier. Since play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler was already in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl, Herbstreit had to go there.

So he left the “GameDay” set for the first time and actually filmed part of the show from a highway in Oregon, seemingly on his way to an airport.

ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit is on the field before the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl playoff semifinal game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

UNC PLAYER TYLEE CRAFT DIES OF LUNG CANCER AT 23; TEAM MATE REACHES THE TOUCHDOWN IN HIS JERSEY

To make the day even longer, Herbstreit began broadcasting at 6 a.m. Oregon time, and the Texas-Oklahoma broadcast began at 3:30 p.m. ET.

“It’s all ok. “We’re going really fast right now,” said Herbstreit from the road.

“It was cold as hell on that trip. Who ordered the convertible?!?” Herbstreit posted on X while flying over Salt Lake City. “Whatever it takes to get to the Red River Rivalry in Dallas at 3:30 p.m. ET. For the first time, I left the show in the middle hoping I would make it to the game I was calling.”

Herbstreit was close and only reached Dallas 45 minutes before kickoff. He posted a video of his police escort outside the stadium at 3:25 p.m. ET, five minutes before the scheduled kickoff.

The 55-year-old is no stranger to long days, travel and two assignments in one day. Just last week, he was on the “GameDay” set in Berkeley, Calif., and then hosted the Arkansas-Tennessee game in Fayetteville.

From left, Kirk Herbstreit (right) meets with Desmond Howard, Rece Davis, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban and Lee Corso for ESPN’s “GameDay” near Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (IMAGN)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Herbstreit doesn’t have to worry next week, though — he’ll be on call all day in Austin, Texas, for the long-awaited Texas-Georgia game.

Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.