Kirk Herbstreit urges college football programs to 'build a team' over 'chasing five-stars'

ESPN announcers Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit appeared on SportsCenter with SVP following their broadcast of Miami’s 31-27 victory over Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl. During the segment, Herbstreit emphasized the importance of college football programs focusing on team-building rather than solely pursuing five-star recruits and navigating the complexities of the transfer portal. He highlighted Miami’s success as an example of how team chemistry and cohesion contribute to winning games, noting the emotional post-game comments from Miami player Jakobe Thomas. Herbstreit stressed that while utilizing the transfer portal is necessary, programs should prioritize finding players committed to playing together. Fowler concurred, pointing out Miami’s effective use of players from multiple schools while maintaining the right team dynamics. Herbstreit concluded with a call to action for programs to focus on building cohesive teams to achieve success.