Kirk Herbstreit clears up what was said in 'hot mic' moment

Kirk Herbstreit clears up what was said in ‘hot mic’ moment

Dec 2, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; ESPN personality Kirk Herbstreit walks down the field prior to the game between the Clemson Tigers and the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Kirk Herbstreit had a hot mic moment that was widely misinterpreted during Monday night’s game between TCU and North Carolina.

Herbstreit and play-by-play announcer Rece Davis were on the ESPN call for Bill Belichick’s college football debut at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels were dominated 48-14 in the game, which led to a lot of criticism of Belichick. Herbstreit did not contribute to it, however — at least on the air.

When ESPN returned from a commercial break with North Carolina trailing 41-14 in the fourth quarter, Herbstreit was caught saying something on a hot mic while chuckling. Many fans thought Herbstreit said “they’re bad” and was referring to UNC’s poor performance in the game.

Herbstreit actually said “you’re bad,” not “they’re bad.” The longtime analyst said he was reacting to something a member of the ESPN production crew said just as the game came back on the air.

“Must be a slow night … not sure why this is so confusing. I said ‘YOU’RE bad’ to my spotter Deron for something funny he said when we were just coming back on air,” Herbstreit wrote on X.

Must be a slow night..not sure why this is so confusing. I said “YOU’RE bad” to my spotter Deron for something funny he said when we were just coming back on air. https://t.co/qkQUwuQHeC
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) September 2, 2025

Herbstreit then criticized fans and media outlets for “making things up.”

“Instead of making up things I said how bout (sic) giving Rece, Holly, and I some love for getting through that game — those games are by far the toughest games you announcers have to call,” Herbstreit wrote in a follow-up post.

Instead of making up things I said how bout giving Rece, Holly, and I some love for getting through that game-those games are by far the toughest games you announcers have to call.
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) September 2, 2025

No one would have blamed Herbstreit for calling UNC “bad.” Aside from their excellent opening drive, the Tar Heels were pretty awful. Fans were quick to give Belichick the meme treatment.