• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

ESPN’s Mike Golic Sr. to Host Trivia Show For Learfield IMG College

  • The Radio Hall of Famer will host ‘The Fan Exam’ starting Nov. 10.
  • The show will be one of Golic’s first outside moves as he plots his career beyond ESPN.
golic_sr_standing_by_trophy
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Golic Sr. has scored a new gig as the host of a national sports trivia show created by Learfield IMG College and SIDEARM Sports.

The ESPN college football analyst was announced Nov. 5 as the host of “The Fan Exam.” Health and beauty giant Unilever has signed up to title-sponsor the free, online show.

“This sounds like fun,” Golic told Front Office Sports. “I’ve enjoyed calling the college [football] games. This opportunity came up and it reminded me of the ‘HQ Trivia’ game that was out for a while that I played all the time. So this will be a lot of fun.”

Starting Nov. 10, fans will be able to play the “Fan Exam” exclusively and simultaneously on a network of official athletics websites and apps powered by Learfield’s SIDEARM network. It includes 150-plus collegiate athletic websites — including over 40 Power Five schools like UCLA, Syracuse and Ole Miss.

The show’s inaugural six-week, 12-episode run will go from Nov. 10 to Dec. 17. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, fans will be able to answer a dozen college sports trivia questions in a non-elimination format. Top finishers win prizes after each week of play and at the end of the show’s six-week run.

“Who doesn’t love to try to answer trivia questions,” asked the 57-year old Golic. “The beauty about this is you’re never eliminated through all the shows that we’re going to have. You can win for that week, there’s a cumulative score for the entire year. So even if you miss questions, it doesn’t matter. You still get to answer all twelve [questions]. Your score is logged — and you can win a bunch of different ways. It’s cool. You’re never out of it.”

Rick Barakat, Learfield’s executive vice president and managing director of media and partnerships, said the former Notre Dame football captain “resonates” with all things college football. He reached out to Golic directly to offer him the gig. 

“We needed a dynamic, engaging, charismatic host. Mike checks all of those boxes,” Barakat said.

The strategy is for Learfield is to create a competitive “marketplace difference” for SIDEARM via its own media and content platforms, Barakat added. 

roberts_smiling

ESPN’s David Roberts Dishes On New ESPN Radio Lineup And Strategy

David Roberts is all about winning, says colleague Stephen A. Smith.  Roberts,…
August 5, 2020

“We think it’s scale-able and repeatable. This is not a one-off idea. The idea is to debut it here in the fall, to get participation and engagement, then repeat that in the spring and/or fall in the years to come.”

The hosting job seems like a natural fit for Golic, the former NFL defensive lineman, as he ponders his next chapter after a 25-year career at ESPN.

The former co-host of “Mike & Mike” and “Golic and Wingo” left ESPN Radio’s lineup on July 31. With his ESPN contract expiring at the end of the year, the Radio Hall of Famer is poised to become a media free agent.

With his radio show off the dial, Golic returned to his roots this year, calling college football games for ESPN, including Fighting Irish games. 

When Golic recently called Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech, it was his first Irish game telecast in 18 years. On Nov. 7, he and play-by-play partner Dave Pasch and sideline reporter Stormy Buonantony are scheduled to call Arizona vs. Utah on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m. ET. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.

F1’s ESPN-Apple Dilemma Could Come Down to Reach vs. Money

MLB and MLS games on Apple TV+ have not drawn huge audiences.
Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Head coaches Willie Fritz of Houston, Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State, Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia, Lance Leipold of Kansas, Sonny Dykes of TCU, Kyle Whittingham of Utah, Brent Brennan of Arizona and Deion Sanders of Colorado all sit on stage for a Coaches Roundtable during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star.

Big 12 Commish: Conference Is ‘All In’ on International Expansion

The conference had once planned a large initiative in Mexico.
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Mercedes driver George Russell (63) leads the second lap over Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) during the F1 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Apple Vies With ESPN for U.S. Formula One Rights

ESPN’s rights agreement with F1 has been worth about $90 million annually.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.