Any debate that takes place on ESPN’s “College GameDay” is genuine and organic, not manufactured, for ratings, Kirk Herbstreit says.

The college football analyst, who recently appeared on the “Net Positive” podcast with comedian John Crist, made that point clear.

“One thing I do on my job is I don’t pretend how I feel about something,” Herbstreit said. “If you agree with me, then great, then we’re going to agree. But I’ve never ‘Hey, I’ll go this way, and you go that way, and we’ll create an argument, and it’ll be good for TV.’

“And I think there are a lot of shows like that on TV that are let’s just argue about something. It’s a debate, even if you don’t believe it.”

Herbstreit points to the respect each member of the panel has for one another as the main reason why.

“I just say what I think,” Herbstreit said. “I do a ton of homework. I talk to a million people. I watch a ton of film, and I have opinions. If Nick Saban agrees, great, if he doesn’t, great,” he said.

“Once in a while, we’ll get sideways, but our show is more respectful. It’s not creating arguments or manufacturing anything. We love each other. We’ve been working a long time together. I think GameDay has a different vibe to it.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.