Great news for college football fans as the preeminent voice of the sport will return to the big stage to call one of the most important games of the season.

Brent Musburger will return to ESPN to call the Iron Bowl this Saturday between #1 Alabama and #14 Auburn. Musburger will announce the game alongside the top SEC Network crew of Jesse Palmer and Maria Taylor. ESPN confirmed the broadcast assignment to Awful Announcing Monday afternoon. It was first reported on Twitter by Cole Cubelic.

As far as ESPN’s top broadcast team of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Heather Cox? They’ll be on the call of another game with huge playoff implications – #3 Florida State looking to finish an unbeaten regular season at home versus Florida.

Musburger has been on the periphery of the college football universe this season with his duties on the SEC Network, usually calling the fourth or fifth most important game in the conference that week. This past weekend he announced Alabama vs Western Carolina. The Iron Bowl is a far cry from that glorified scrimmage.

It’s an interesting decision to ESPN given they forcibly passed the torch from Brent to Chris Fowler this season with their top broadcast booth. This assignment could also have the subliminal message of free advertising for the SEC Network as well with Musburger and Palmer coming to ESPN.

Count me among the many college football fans that still wish Brent Musburger was the lead voice for ESPN’s coverage of the sport. Even at this point in his career, there’s a passion and an energy with Musburger in the booth that is undeniable. He’s one of the few broadcasters living that can add a big-game feel just by his presence in the booth. (Which is why ESPN used his voice to advertise a game he wasn’t even announcing this year.) Chris Fowler is solid as a football play by play man, but he’s much better as a studio host. There have been a few moments this year that fans have been left wanting and wondering how Musburger would have called a certain big play…. or referenced the point spread.

To be honest, there’s only one Brent Musburger. And it will be fantastic to hear him call Auburn-Alabama this Saturday.