This is bad for football fans ... ESPN star Kirk Herbstreit says he'd be "shocked" if there was NFL or college football in 2020 -- explaining it's just too dangerous with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The "College Gameday" host went on ESPN radio late Thursday and spelled out why he's so pessimistic about seeing America's biggest sport on the biggest stages.
"I'll be shocked if we have NFL football this fall, if we have college football. I'll be so surprised if that happens," Kirk said.
"Just because from what I understand, people that I listen to, you're 12 to 18 months from a [coronavirus] vaccine. I don't know how you let these guys go into locker rooms and let stadiums be filled up and how you can play ball. I just don't know how you can do it with the optics of it."
Kirk said if he was the NFL commish or in charge of the NCAA, he would shut it down ASAP -- "Next thing you know you got a locker room full of guys that are sick. And that's on your watch? I wouldn't want to have that."
"As much as I hate to say it, I think we're scratching the surface of where this thing's gonna go."
Kirk also says he doesn't think people realize how much time college and NFL coaches need to properly prepare their teams for the long season.
"You don't all of the sudden come up with something in July or August and say, 'Okay we're good to go' and turn 'em loose!"
As far as the NFL goes, they seem set on kicking off as scheduled -- with Roger Goodell announcing the 2020 NFL Draft will NOT be pushed due to the pandemic.