ESPN's Richard Cross and Charlie Strong announce The Citadel at Texas A&M

The 17 October 2026 NCAAF College Football match between The Citadel at Texas A&M will be announced on the ESPN channel, with commentary carried by Richard Cross and Charlie Strong. In UK terms the match runs from 18:00 on Thursday evening, giving viewers across both sides of the pond a full look at how the two teams line up ahead of next month's homecoming.

The call is being delivered through ESPN's ESPN Unlimited feed alongside the SEC Network, meaning American fans can follow along on the flagship channel that has long been a staple of the college football season. The pairing of these two commentators is a reminder of how the sport's announcing circuit keeps evolving, with fresh faces joining veterans year on year.

On the mic

Richard Cross is running the play-by-play, keeping viewers in step with the teams as they line up. He has built a reputation as one of the more vivid voices in college football commentary, and his own writing on the topic has described the sport's quirks as some of "the craziest cases in college football history." That sense of enthusiasm tends to rub off on the way he covers a match, which is exactly what makes these announcements worth watching.

Charlie Strong is handling the analyst duties, breaking down the numbers and giving fans a read on how each team is shaping up. Working alongside Richard Cross, the two make for a solid pair for what could be a big match given the size of Texas A&M's roster.

Who is who

Richard Cross has spent time in sports broadcasting beyond just college football, drawing on his background as a sports announcer in his career. His presence on the announcing circuit this season reflects the growing roster of commentators ESPN now draws on to cover these matches.

Charlie Strong rounds out the analyst role, contributing his own take on the teams. Both names have been confirmed for this match as part of the wider 2026-27 ESPN commentator schedule, which has been shaping up across the autumn.

For anyone wanting to follow along, the ESPN feed is the place to be from 18:00 UK time on 17 October.

Article generated: 15 October 2026, 18:04 GMT