Kirk Herbstreit, a self-proclaimed” traditionalist has called it “a sad” when talking about the state of college football, but that doesn’t mean the ESPN analyst isn’t going to keep an open mind.

The “GameDay” star joined with Sean Salisbury on Sportstalk 790 in Houston to talk about conference realignment, NIL and the transfer portal.

“I’m a traditionalist,” Herbstreit said. “I’m not ashamed to say that. It seems like some people don’t like to hear that, but I am. I’m a proud traditionalist. I love rivalries. I love everything college football stands for. I’m a weirdo. I like the marching bands. I like the student section. I love it all. I like the corny things of how a team walks down a certain way into the stadium. I eat it all up. That’s why it never gets old doing what I do in the college game.”

Herbstreit, who will join Chris Fowler and Holly Rowe on the ABC Saturday Night Football again this season, added change was inevitable, especially after the SEC added Oklahoma at Texas.

“So to see all this shake up, and realignment, which you knew was inevitable, once Texas and OU decided to go to the SEC, you knew more was coming,” Herbstreit said. “And, if you are a traditionalist, it’s a sad day. It’s just another confirmation that the college game that we all grew up with is history. It’s gone. The Rose Bowl’s gone. It’s a very, very challenging time for us, and I’ve learned over these last few years to not be a guy who’s going to put my head in the sand and cross my arms and say, ‘What the hell’s going on with this sport?’”

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.