College football is back, and that also means questions about whether announcers impact the results of field goal attempts or not. Even the ESPN broadcasters of Thursday night’s game between Colorado and Georgia were left asking themselves if they jinxed a kicker.
In the first quarter, Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr lined up for a field goal try.
“We go back to the Aidan Birr conversation,” ESPN play-by-play announcer Matt Barrie said. “Just five field goals away from becoming the school’s all-time leader in career field goals. In college, when you have a kicker with those bona fides, that’s a weapon.”
“No doubt,” color commentator Chase Daniel responded. “Fourth-and-long, bring him out. 35-yarder, left hash.
Birr proceeded to miss the kick wide right.
“Did we just announcer-jinx him?” pic.twitter.com/YIcZtM7l76
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 4, 2026
“And we build him up, and he missed it right,” Barrie said.
“Did we just announcer-jinx him?” Daniel asked.
“25-of-29 a year ago, and Aidan Birr starts out cold for Georgia Tech,” Barrie added.
After Colorado scored a touchdown to take the lead 14-13 with 42 seconds left, Birr had a chance to kick a walk-off field goal.
“They’re going to try to position it for their kicker to give them a walk-off kick and win the game,” Barrie explained. “He owns two of the longest walk-off field goals in Georgia Tech history… And it’s gonna all come down to the captain Aidan Birr. Set a Georgia Tech record with single-season field goals with 25, and now has a chance to send Georgia Tech off the field with a third walk-off kick in his career. 45 yards. Night one of Week 1 all comes down to this. Clean. Birr, blocked! Colorado wins!”
“Oh my goodness!” Daniel exclaimed.
And the finish… https://t.co/oUfs6OTcFI pic.twitter.com/RgYIPRlBaJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 4, 2026
As for the first kick, Daniel posted to X after the game, “Total announcer jinx.”
Total announcer jinx https://t.co/YOG7VJQR2p
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) September 4, 2026
Daniel, who played 13 years at quarterback in the NFL, was promoted to a weekly Thursday night game alongside Barrie ahead of the season, and they will work together on SEC Network’s SEC Nation show on Saturday mornings. They showed off a good sense of humor and clearly had fun during Thursday night’s broadcast, even though superstitious Georgia Tech fans might blame them for the loss.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at Awful Announcing and The Comeback.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@awfulannouncing.com.