Phil Simms to call Big Ten games on Peacock in 2025

Former Giants quarterback Phil Simms joins NBC Sports to call three Big Ten games on Peacock this season, marking a return after his CBS exit.

Phil Simms returns to NBC Sports to call Big Ten games on Peacock in 2025

Phil Simms is returning to the NBC Sports family after years away from NBC’s college football broadcasts. He will call three Big Ten games on Peacock this season, including the August 29 matchup between Illinois and Western Illinois and the September 6 game featuring Rutgers against Miami Ohio. A third game is to be announced.

Simms will team with play-by-play announcer Paul Burmeister. NBC notes Simms brings a long history with the network, touching major broadcasts in the past. His son Chris Simms will also call Big Ten games this season. NBC Sports executive Sam Flood welcomed him back and expressed confidence in the pairing, while Simms said he is excited to return to broadcasting and to the college football season.

NBC’s move with Simms signals a strategy to anchor Peacock’s live sports slate with familiar voices. Veteran analysts can help attract viewers to a streaming product and provide continuity amid a churn of broadcast teams across networks.

The broader trend is networks courting seasoned broadcasters to stand out in a crowded market. The Simms family connection adds another layer to the schedule, raising questions about how audience fatigue might be managed if veteran voices become a steady feature across multiple games and platforms.

Highlights

The season will test how veteran voices fit within Peacock’s growing live sports strategy.