Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN
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Kirk Herbstreit deletes social media post after Navy-fueled backlash

Kirk Herbstreit stepped into it this week, and college football fans were more than happy to point it out.

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The ESPN analyst promoted his "Nonstop" podcast Monday by sharing a clip with the caption, "Saturday not having college football threw us for a loop." That line did not sit well, and it did not last long. The post was quickly met with backlash on X, including a community note reminding readers that multiple games were, in fact, played.

Saturday featured the annual Army-Navy game, along with the Cricket Celebration Bowl and the LA Bowl. The Navy football account was especially quick to jump in, poking fun at Herbstreit for the oversight. Not long after that, the post was deleted.

The point Herbstreit was likely trying to make was obvious. Compared to a typical Saturday in the heart of the season, the slate was light. But in college football, words matter, and saying there was no football at all was always going to draw heat.

It also touched a familiar nerve. Fans of service academies and smaller bowl games tend to bristle at the idea that their games do not count, especially when they are ignored by the sport's biggest voices.

Herbstreit has previously said he does not personally run his social media accounts. If that is still the case, whoever does might want to tighten things up a bit.

In the end, it was a small mistake and a quick delete. But in December, when the schedule thins and every game stands on its own, college football fans are paying attention. And they are always ready to correct the record.