The 12-team era of the College Football Playoff officially kicked off Friday night with a rather out-of-the-box sponsor leading the broadcast on ESPN and ABC.
As play-by-play broadcaster Sean McDonough and analyst Greg McElroy began to preview the first-round game between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 10 Indiana, it was revealed that OG Fortnite—the online video game—sponsored the opening kickoff.
"You're watching the Fortnite OG kickoff," McDonough said as the broadcast transitioned to a commercial break. "We're dropping in on the head coaches and the sideline reporters ... and the opening kickoff in a moment."
Where were YOU for the College Football Playoff Fortnite OG Kickoff @JMGamin_ pic.twitter.com/AwaEoVw9eA
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) December 21, 2024
It's not unusual to have a sponsor for the kickoff before a big game—anything flies these days in the corporate television broadcasting world. But a video game paying big bucks to sponsor a pivotal kickoff in college football history—the first of the 12-team tournament—was certainly unexpected.
College football fans had some fun with the moment:
First game of the 12-team CFB Playoff being presented by OG Fortnite is CRAZY pic.twitter.com/J07KCPTsdg
— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) December 21, 2024
If they say Fortnite OG one more time
— Will Levis (@will_levis) December 21, 2024
“You’re watching the Fortnite OG Kickoff”
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) December 21, 2024
This sport isn’t serious anymore
“You’re watching the College Football Playoff brought to you by Fortnite OG” pic.twitter.com/WqlIgdSNbb
— sco🦆🌹 (@69sco_) December 21, 2024
Imagine showing this picture to someone at the beginning of the season — a CFP game between Indiana & Notre Dame presented by OG Fortnite.
— Jay Smith (@Jayray_smith) December 21, 2024
They wouldn’t have believed you. pic.twitter.com/lKKdr1gDsX
The game got off to an electric start, with Notre Dame and Indiana exchanging interceptions before Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love scored a 98-yard touchdown to put the first points on the scoreboard.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Fortnite OG Sponsoring the Opening CFP Kickoff Led to Countless Jokes From Fans.
