ESPN moves Tessitore to Saturday football games

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) ESPN is moving play-by-play man Joe Tessitore from Thursday night to Saturday night games and Sam Ponder will now be the sideline reporter

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) ESPN is moving play-by-play man Joe Tessitore from Thursday night to Saturday night games and Sam Ponder will now be the sideline reporter for ABC's Saturday Night Football.

ESPN also announced Wednesday that Steve Levy will do play-by-play for weekly Saturday college football games and be paired with analyst Brian Griese.

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Tessitore had been doing play-by-play on Thursday night games, along with hosting ''SEC Nation,'' the SEC Network's Saturday morning pregame show. Tessitore also hosted ESPN's late Saturday night scoreboard wrap-up show last year. He will now work Saturday night ESPN games with Todd Blackledge as the analyst. Tessitore replaces Brad Nessler, who has moved to CBS.

Ponder will replace Heather Cox as the sideline reporter for ABC Saturday night games, with Chris Fowler doing play-by-play and analyst Kirk Herbstreit.