Mike Monaco and Ben McDonald to lead ESPN’s Alabama vs Texas College World Series coverage

Match date: 15 June 2026

Alabama vs Texas in the NCAA College World Series will be shown in the UK on ESPN and ESPN Unlimited, with Mike Monaco on play-by-play alongside Ben McDonald and Eduardo Pérez, while Taylor McGregor reports from the field. For radio listeners in the United States, Westwood One is also carrying the game with John Bishop, Mike Ferrin, and Connor Happer. [1]

This is part of ESPN’s exclusive 2026 coverage of the Men’s College World Series, which the network says runs from June 12 to 22 and includes a deeper broadcast operation than usual, with an expanded studio show from Omaha and multiple on-site commentator teams. [6][9] ESPN’s broadcast setup for the event also places Monaco on one of its main crews alongside McDonald, Pérez, and McGregor, which matches the assignment for this game. [1][6]

Mike Monaco has become one of ESPN’s most prominent college baseball voices, and the network’s 2026 plans note that he is among the commentators trusted to handle a second national broadcast team during the tournament. [1][6] Ben McDonald, the former LSU pitching star and Major League Baseball pitcher, brings long-standing colour analysis experience to ESPN’s college baseball coverage, while Eduardo Pérez adds a strong major-league and international baseball background that has made him a regular feature on ESPN’s biggest baseball telecasts. [1] Taylor McGregor is also making her College World Series reporting debut after working the Women’s College World Series last year, according to ESPN’s coverage notes. [1]

On radio, John Bishop and Mike Ferrin form the lead Westwood One commentary team, with Connor Happer handling reports. Westwood One’s national sports coverage has long included major college and post-season events, and this assignment gives the company a parallel audio option for fans following the game across the Atlantic or on the move in the US. [1]

The matchup itself carries the kind of heavyweight appeal that fits Omaha’s showcase stage. ESPN’s College World Series coverage preview describes the 2026 field as one of the deepest in recent years, and Alabama against Texas is the sort of traditional-name clash that draws attention from both American and British college sports followers. [2][8] Texas also arrives as one of the most recognisable programmes in the sport, with ESPN noting the broader significance of this year’s tournament as the network continues its exclusive live rights package. [6][8]

For viewers who want the broader competition context, ESPN’s tournament hub and coverage explain that the network is providing full-event television, studio, and digital support across the Men’s College World Series, with live programming from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha for the first time throughout the full two weeks. [1][6] More on the tournament and ESPN’s coverage can be found through ESPN’s College World Series press release. [6]

Article generated: 15 June 2026, 19:00 GMT