Kirk Herbstreit Cries, Pays Tribute to Dog Ben on ESPN College GameDay

Kirk Herbstreit honored his late dog, Ben, during the Saturday, November 9, broadcast of ESPN’s College GameDay.

“Dogs are known as man’s best friend, but what do you call a dog that becomes a nation’s best friend? You call him Ben,” Herbstreit, 55, said in a prerecorded video message, which aired on Saturday. “I’ll be honest with you when I started bringing Ben on the road, it was for me. I needed a travel companion.”

He added, “Hotel rooms can sometimes feel like islands of solitude. His warm presence became my anchor to home, making my journeys feel less like wandering and more like belonging.”

Herbstreit gushed that whether he was working in his hotel room, a broadcast booth or on the College GameDay set, he could pet the pup and “feel like [he] was home.”

“Ben wasn’t out here to become a social media star, but he became one just by being himself,” Herbstreit added. “The Rose Bowl named him its Chief Happiness Officer and that’s exactly what he did. He made everyone happy. He did without even trying. He just wagged that tail or nestled up against strangers like they were family — and that’s what they became.”

Herbstreit further noted that humans “can all learn” from Ben’s welcoming spirit.

“At a time where everything aims to be at dividing us, our love of football unites us every weekend,” he said. “What I experienced with Ben was that and so much more. Dogs’ only flaw as a species is they don’t live long enough, but the warmth they give us never goes away. So, neither will Ben.”

Herbstreit concluded, tearing up, “This man’s best friend, who became America’s best friend.”

The official College GameDay account posted the video via X, writing, “We love you, Ben ❤️ .”

Herbstreit confirmed earlier this week that Ben had been euthanized following a battle with cancer.

“This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know,” the broadcaster wrote via social media on Thursday, November 7. “We found out today the cancer had spread throughout Ben’s organs and there was nothing left we could do. We had to let him go. I’ve had dogs my whole life but Ben was 1 on 1.”

Herbstreit continued, “He was smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all. Always a big smile and a soft tail wag. He and I could communicate. He and I understood each other and had each other’s backs. He was with me more than anyone at home and traveling with me for work. Such an easygoing companion. Hard day, but he will live within all of us forever. God please bless his majestic soul and thank you for putting him in my life for the last 10 years.”