A decade-old chapter has come to an end for Laura Rutledge. The ESPN reporter who anchored SEC Nation since 2014 has stepped down from the Saturday morning show.

“Today, @LauraRutledge says goodbye to #SECNation after more than a decade on the show. She will continue to expand her NFL assignments during ESPN's Super Bowl year,” ESPN PR wrote in an X post on May 26.

In an essay, Rutledge bid adieu to her colleagues, past and present, and expressed her gratitude to her fans for this journey.

“SEC Nation has never just been a show to me,” she began. “I’ve had the privilege of telling stories that matter…But more than anything, it’s the people who made this experience unforgettable. The crew who worked tirelessly. The colleagues who became lifelong friends…And the fans…is what brought this show to life week after week.”

Rutledge will continue working at ESPN and expand her NFL assignments in ESPN’s Super Bowl year, as informed by Burke Magnus, ESPN President of Content.

In her essay, Rutledge thanked the SEC and its commissioner, Greg Sankey, who will be expecting her on the sidelines at the game this fall. 

“Her work ethic, warmth and deep knowledge of the SEC created a strong bond between fans all over the country, truly capturing what makes our Conference special,” Sankey shared per ESPN Front Row.

She joined ESPN in 2014 as a reporter for the SEC Network and ESPN. Although there are no details of her future assignments, a report suggests who will succeed Rutledge.

Another ESPN Host To Succeed Laura Rutledge

For years, fans tuned into SEC Nation and saw Laura Rutledge host the college pre-game show. That changes now as she stepped down, and according to insider Matt McMurphy’s X post, a SportsCenter host is set to replace her.

“Matt Barrie will replace Laura Rutledge as host of SEC Nation w/the show eyeing halftime shows in SEC stadiums this fall, sources told @On3,” McMurphy posted on May 27.

Barrie is an ESPN studio and College Football Final host. He has worked on these shows for the past 8 years, and reportedly will continue with play-by-play for Thursday night ESPN games.

According to other sources, the show is looking at adding halftime segments from SEC stadiums this fall.

Barrie is an 11 Emmy Award-winning and three Edward R. Murrow Award-winning host. He signed a new multi-year deal in March that keeps him at ESPN through at least 2029.

While ESPN has yet to make a formal announcement, reports indicate Barrie is the frontrunner for the role. Do you have a favorite moment from SEC Nation with Rutledge? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar