ESPN Taps Harry Lyles Jr., Matt Barrie and Pitt Alumnus Louis Riddick to Announce Backyard Brawl

ESPN has chosen Harry Lyles Jr., Matt Barrie and Louis Riddick as it’s announcers for the Backyard Brawl on September 1st at 7:00 p.m.

Fans will likely notice the inclusion of Riddick, a former Pitt football player who was with the team from 1987-90. He went to Pitt as a running back before switching to defense back for the 1989-90 seasons.

After leaving Pittsburgh, he was played safety in the NFL from 1991-98 for five different NFL teams. He also spent time in the World Football League and XFL.

After his playing career was over he became a scout and late executive with the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles, his hometown team. He has since worked for ESPN, notably as a part of their Monday Night Football broadcasts.

Lyles currently works for ESPN as a staff writer and has been on the Thursday night college football broadcasts previously.

As for Barrie he has been with ESPN since 2013 as part of their SportsCenter show. He has previously been the host of the pregame and halftime shows on their Thursday night college football broadcasts.

The game will be the host of College Gameday, likely giving them the halftime duties with them being set up inside Acrisure Stadium.