From quarterback controversies to confident claims, this time of year is designed for speculation and hype ahead of the college football season. One thing that is certain, however, and that is ESPN selecting its new college football anthem for this season will annoy everyone.
This has nothing at all to do with the network or the artist. It has everything thing to do with having to hear this college football anthem on repeat for months on end.
Nevertheless, the song you will be hearing 10,000-plus times throughout the 2018 college football season is "Natural" by Imagine Dragons.
Here is the full version of the song:
In 2017, ESPN selected "Walk on Water" by 30 Seconds to Mars as the anthem. The Worldwide Leader in Sports has also used "Centuries" by Fall Out Boy, "History" by Lauren Alaina and "Collider" by X Ambassadors.
Give it up for Imagine Dragons, though. The group has made a living making sports anthems it seems and now they will be blasted in living rooms and bars for the foreseeable future.
It's quite the brilliant play and exposure for them during commercials, College Gameday, games, and all other ESPN college football programming.
"Living in a dog-eat-dog world can bring out the worst in you, and sometimes, the best," singer Dan Reynolds said in a press release for the song, via Billboard. "It would be a lie to tell you I haven't become somewhat skeptical about some things in the last decade of my life. However, I believe that when you truly learn to love yourself, the judging eyes and hateful words become meaningless. 'Natural' is about finding yourself and being willing and able to stand up to whatever adversity comes your way."
So get ready. Whether you like the song or not, it's safe to say the nation will eventually despise hearing "Natural" by the middle of the season, at the very most, and never want to hear it again after the College Football Playoffs and national championship game.