Drae Smith and Chris Sammarone bring Northern Iowa to Youngstown State on 17 October

The NCAA Division I Football Competition Classic pairing Northern Iowa College against Youngstown State returns to the air on 17 October 2026, when the two universities' commentary teams take to the mic for their scheduled matchup. The game is set to begin at 23:00 UK time, giving both American and British audiences a chance to tune in as the season's autumn battle plays out.

The Northern Iowa side of the field will be fronted by Drae Smith as main commentator, with Chris Sammarone serving as co-commentator. Both have been entered for the ESPN Unlimited feed, and the pair will also be available on the ESPN+ USA channel throughout the game. For readers who follow the classic broadcast lineup, these are the two services that will carry the Northern Iowa commentary.

Who is on the mic

Drae Smith has been a fixture at Youngstown State for some time, having fronted the Duquesne-adjacent commentary duties in previous seasons. The pair have a history together, having been paired as the ESPN+ TV team on earlier games at Youngstown State, including a run that saw them entertain the visiting "Dukes" commentary squad. Their familiarity with the format makes them a natural fit for the Northern Iowa matchup.

Chris Sammarone rounds out the Northern Iowa commentary team as co-commentator, complementing Drae Smith across the game. Together the two have been listed on the official commentary roster for this pairing, submitted under the standard ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+ USA roles.

Where to watch

The game will be broadcast through ESPN Unlimited and ESPN+ USA, the two American channels designated for the Northern Iowa side of this matchup. American audiences can log in through those services, while British viewers have the same options available for following the classic competition.

With a 23:00 UK start on 17 October 2026, there is room to prepare ahead of the game. For a look at the pairing's broadcast details and commentary roster, the official record for this matchup is available at Northern Iowa @ Youngstown State.

Article generated: 15 October 2026, 23:01 GMT