As the 2025 college football season approaches, another member of the Herbstreit family is making the move to media.
On Monday, On3 announced that it has hired Zak Herbstreit as a national college football analyst. The son of ESPN’s Kirk Herbsteit, Zak was a walk-on tight end at Ohio State, where he remained a student coach through the 2024 season after medically retiring due to a heart condition.
“Zak has tremendous natural talent and has grown up immersed in college sports,” On3 founder and CEO Shannon Terry said in a statement. “His ability to connect with today’s college stars will bring a fresh and authentic perspective to the On3 network. He’ll be traveling each week to the biggest games across the country, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at everything that makes Saturdays the greatest day in sports.”
Added Zak Herbstreit: “I’m grateful for the path that led me here, and I’m excited to bring real passion, insight, and a player’s mindset to the content that On3 creates.”
As for the content he’ll provide, it appears that Herbstreit’s primary project will be his YouTube show titled Off Script with Zak Herbstreit. According to the release, the show will feature “in-depth conversations with players, coaches, and prominent voices around the game—alongside unique breakdowns of college football’s biggest moments.”
The first episode, featuring a conversation with Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, released on Monday.
Between his ties to Ohio State — and the reality of his famous father — Herbstreit is obviously well-connected in the world of college football and it will be worth monitoring which guests he’s able to garner and how his new show ultimately takes shape. As for On3, the addition of Herbstreit marks the Nashville-based company’s latest move in an offseason that has also seen it purchase Rivals and hire national college football reporter Brett McMurphy.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.