Kirk Herbstreit, Wife Ditch Ohio State Colors for Michigan Ones at Son's Spring Game

The proud parents have to put their college loyalties aside to support their quarterback son.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, geometric painting depicting the rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan, with sharp planes of navy, scarlet, and maize colors overlapping to represent the divided loyalties of a parent supporting their child's choice of school.A cubist interpretation of the complex family dynamics when a parent's college allegiances clash with their child's choice of school.Columbus Today

Kirk Herbstreit, a former Ohio State quarterback and current ESPN college football analyst, attended his son Chase's Michigan spring game over the weekend. Despite his Ohio State allegiance, Herbstreit wore neutral navy blue clothing to blend in with the Michigan crowd and support his son, who is a quarterback for the Wolverines.

Why it matters

Herbstreit's decision to set aside his Ohio State loyalties and support his son's rival program at Michigan highlights the challenges faced by parents of student-athletes who play for opposing schools. This story showcases the delicate balance between family loyalty and college sports rivalries.

The details

Herbstreit, who quarterbacked the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1989 to 1993 and was the team captain and 1992 team MVP, has had to remain neutral when calling Ohio State games, including national championship games. While his other sons, Zak and the twins Jake and Tye, played for Ohio State and Clemson respectively, his quarterback son Chase chose to attend Michigan as a three-star recruit in 2025.

  • Kirk Herbstreit attended the Michigan spring game on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • Chase Herbstreit committed to Michigan as a three-star recruit in 2025.

The players

Kirk Herbstreit

A former Ohio State quarterback and current ESPN college football and Amazon Prime Video NFL lead analyst.

Chase Herbstreit

Kirk Herbstreit's son, who is a quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines.

Zak Herbstreit

Kirk Herbstreit's son, who is a tight end for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Jake Herbstreit

Kirk Herbstreit's twin son, who played for the Clemson Tigers.

Tye Herbstreit

Kirk Herbstreit's twin son, who played for the Clemson Tigers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This story highlights the delicate balance that parents of student-athletes must navigate when their children play for rival college programs. Despite his deep Ohio State roots, Kirk Herbstreit was able to set aside his allegiances to support his son Chase at the Michigan spring game, demonstrating the power of family loyalty over college sports rivalries.