ESPN Unlimited hosts Portland State @ Northern Arizona, with James Malamas and Kevin Stephens

The 2026 NCAA Division I College Football Selection Committee competition between Portland State and Northern Arizona goes live at 00:00 UK time on Friday, 18 October 2026. The match will be broadcast through ESPN Unlimited, with the ESPN+ USA feed serving as the primary destination for viewers in the United States and behind paywalls.

The pairing of play-by-play and color commentators is one of the more interesting developments this season, as James Malamas takes up the play-by-play role for the first time. He will be joined by his longtime partner Kevin Stephens as colour commentator, while Adriana Sparks is on reporting duties for the package.

A fresh voice in the play-by-play

James Malamas has only recently been installed as the play-by-play broadcaster for the Northern Arizona University football and men's basketball program, a role that was previously carried by Mitch Strohman for around three decades. The change was announced in August 2026, and it marks the first time James Malamas has fronted a College Football Selection Committee competition in this capacity.

Alongside his football work, James Malamas describes himself as the voice of the Lumberjack women's basketball program, and he is expected to draw on both areas of expertise when he reads through the match. His first major television-style competition as the primary play-by-play announcer makes this Portland State versus Northern Arizona game a notable milestone for the young broadcaster.

The colour commentator and the reporter

Kevin Stephens has long been the colour commentator for the Northern Arizona football broadcasts, and he will once again anchor the second voice this season. As a familiar presence on television and radio broadcasts of these competitions, he brings established credentials to the pairing. His partnership with James Malamas was specifically called out when the new play-by-play voice was announced, underscoring that the two are expected to work closely together.

Reporting duties are being handled by Adriana Sparks, who has built a career as a sports commentator and news intern across Arizona-based outlets. She has been active in the College Football Selection Committee space since late 2025, and she is expected to keep viewers informed of the latest developments as the match plays out.

Where to watch

The match is available through ESPN Unlimited, with the ESPN+ USA feed providing the main viewing platform. Fans following the Portland State versus Northern Arizona game should tune into ESPN+ for the full play-by-play, colour commentary, and reporting throughout the competition.

For background on how James Malamas came to take up the Northern Arizona play-by-play role, the announcement from the university's athletics site is worth a look:

Read the announcement about the new Northern Arizona play-by-play voice

Article generated: 16 October 2026, 00:17 GMT