VFL Charles Davis is heading to the CBS College Football broadcast booth in 2026, the company announced on Wednesday.
Davis will replace longtime broadcasting veteran Gary Danielson, who will retire following the conclusion of the 2025 season. Davis will step into the booth alongside Brad Nessler and Jenny Dell when the time comes.
With the SEC now on ESPN, Tennessee’s games won’t be under Davis’s call. It’s hard not to imagine that Davis won’t be scoreboard-watching Josh Heupel’s teams during commercial breaks, though.
Davis is considered one of the more well-known voices in the NFL as he transitions over to the Big Ten on CBS. He has had a long career in the broadcasting world, recently calling NFL games for FOX and CBS since 2017 and becoming one of the two lead broadcasters of the Madden NFL video game franchise in 2017.
“For the past two decades, Charles has been among the best analysts across the NFL and college football,” CBS Sports President David Berson said in a press release. “He’s well known to fans, from calling college football national championships to NFL playoff games to the voice of ‘Madden NFL.’
“We’re thrilled Charles will be returning to his roots — college football — and calling our top Big Ten game each week.”
Congratulations, Charles Davis! https://t.co/bDTsiUfqnY pic.twitter.com/ORupAezKYJ
— Neyland Press Corps (@NeylandPress_) March 26, 2025
More from RTI: Josh Heupel Provides Update on Limited Transfer Addition Amari Jefferson
Davis has been an NFL television analyst with CBS since 2020, primarily working alongside Ian Eagle in the booth. The former Vol has also had a big hand in Tennessee Titans preseason coverage.
Throughout his time in the broadcasting world, Davis hasn’t forgotten about his former home of Knoxville, TN. The Tennessee football program and athletics department have used Davis as a video host and audio narrator for big events such as National Signing Day coverage and hype videos.
Davis, born in Elizabethton, TN, played safety for the Tennessee Volunteers from 1983 to 1986. Davis was a four-year starter for the Vols, helped the team capture the 1986 Sugar Bowl in a 35-7 win over Miami, and graduated with a political science degree in 1986 and an MS in history in 1989.
Davis is undoubtedly one of the sharpest tools in Tennessee’s all-time shed and has proven that with his longtime and respected broadcasting career, now continuing with the Big Ten on CBS in 2026.
Check out CBS Sports’ full press release here.
