Fox Sports Promoted Connor Onion to Second Broadcast Crew

The 31-year-old sportscaster steps into a leading role following a shift in the network's college football lineup.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Football

Expressionist editorial illustration of a broadcast headset and microphone on a desk, representing the college football broadcasting profession. — Fox Sports has promoted sportscaster Connor Onion to its secondary college football broadcast team, starting his new role in the 2026 season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Fox Sports promoted 31-year-old Connor Onion to its No. 2 college football broadcast crew during the summer of 2026. This move follows the departure of Jason Benetti, who left the network to join NBC.

Why it matters

The appointment marks a significant milestone for the rapidly rising broadcaster, who will now feature in high-profile college football matchups. Onion joins analysts Robert Griffin III and reporter Alexa Landestoy to lead coverage on the network's secondary team.

Onion applied for 50 jobs in 2017 while starting his career, receiving responses from only 5 teams. He currently works alongside Robert Griffin III and Alexa Landestoy.

The players

Connor Onion

He is a 31-year-old play-by-play announcer who has risen through the ranks of regional and network sports broadcasting.

Robert Griffin III

He is a former NFL quarterback who transitioned into a career as a prominent football analyst for major networks.

Alexa Landestoy

She is an experienced sports reporter who covers high-profile college athletic events.

Jason Benetti

He is a veteran play-by-play announcer whose departure from Fox to NBC necessitated a reorganization of the college football broadcast teams.

Mike Reis

He is a legendary broadcaster who spent 44 years covering Southern Illinois sports before retiring in 2023.

The details

Onion brings experience from the Big Ten Network, which he joined in 2021 after calling women's volleyball in Southern Illinois. The new trio is scheduled to call the Northwestern-Indiana game on September 25, 2026, and will also announce games at the newly constructed Ryan Field.

2017: Onion began calling games for the Quad Cities River Bandits.
2021: Onion secured a role at the Big Ten Network.
2023: Longtime broadcaster Mike Reis retired from Southern Illinois sports after 44 years.
2024: Onion officially joined the Fox Sports network.
September 25, 2026: Onion is slated to call the Northwestern versus Indiana game.

The Big Picture

This transition highlights the generational shifts in broadcasting, following the 2023 retirement of Southern Illinois broadcaster Mike Reis. The rise of Onion represents the next generation of broadcast talent emerging from the same regional sports ecosystem where Reis spent 44 years.

Viewers can expect to hear the new broadcast trio of Onion, Griffin, and Landestoy during the upcoming Northwestern-Indiana game on September 25, 2026. This promotion locks in the secondary broadcast team for Fox's college football coverage through the remainder of the season.

The takeaway

The rise of Onion serves as a reminder of the importance of early-career repetition and regional experience in reaching national broadcast roles. Aspiring sportscasters can look to his path of applying to dozens of positions to gain necessary experience in minor-league settings.