Former Heisman Trophy finalist, legendary college QB joins NBC Sports’ Big Ten football coverage

A former Heisman Trophy finalist and one of the most decorated quarterbacks in college football history could be in the booth for Penn State games this fall.

Colt McCoy, the former Texas quarterback and 14-year NFL veteran, has been hired by NBC as a Big Ten football analyst. NBC announced the news Monday after McCoy’s NFL retirement.

McCoy will serve as a game analyst and will also appear on NBC’s pregame studio show. He will make his debut in the booth alongside Paul Burmeister (play-by-play) and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter) for the Nebraska-Colorado game on Sept. 7.

“College football has always held a special place in my heart. With the expansion of the Big Ten and new era of college football, it is the perfect time to join NBC Sports,” McCoy said in a press release. “I can’t wait to share in the passion, excitement and competitive spirit every week.”

McCoy left Texas as the winningest quarterback in FBS history with 45 wins. He was a Heisman finalist and the Maxwell Award winner in 2009, leading the Longhorns to the national title game. McCoy was drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns and played for five NFL teams over the course of 14 seasons.

The addition of McCoy, 37, adds an up-and-comer to NBC’s broadcast team. The network’s top pairing in the booth is still play-by-play Noah Eagle and former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge providing color commentary. Blackledge is entering his second season with NBC after building an impressive resume calling games for ESPN.

Blackledge and Eagle called two Penn State games last year: the season opener against West Virginia and the regular season finale against Michigan State at Ford Field in Detroit.

It’s still unclear which Penn State games this season will be on NBC. Only two games have TV network designations. The Aug. 31 opener at West Virginia will be on FOX while the Sept. 7 home opener will air on Big Ten Network. Both games kick off at noon.