ESPN Tabs New Host To Replace Laura Rutledge On SEC Nation

by Staff Reporter

March 18, 20261 Comments

Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

ESPN's Matt Barrie will be replacing Laura Rutledge as the host of SEC Nation this fall, according to The Athletic‘s Andrew Marchand. Per Awful Announcing:

quote:
Matt Barrie is set to succeed Rutledge as the host of SEC Nation, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. Barrie, who has spent 13 years at ESPN as a college football host, play-by-play announcer, SportsCenter anchor, and, most recently, a host for ESPN’s TGL coverage, will take over the SEC Network’s flagship Saturday morning pregame show alongside lead analysts Tim Tebow, Paul Finebaum, Jordan Rodgers, and Roman Harper.

Rutledge joined ESPN in 2014, worked her way up from SEC Network reporter to SEC Nation host to NFL Live to Monday Night Football, and went viral at the Sugar Bowl in January when a video of her sprinting across the Superdome field to make a two-minute halftime transition became its own testament to how good she is at the job. She leaves SEC Nation with the show in good hands and with a portfolio that has long warranted more than ESPN was giving her. It sounds like she’s finally getting it.