ESPN Anchor Caught On Hot Mic Unleashing Vulgar 4-Word Message That We Definitely Weren’t Supposed To Hear [VIDEO]
An ESPN anchor was caught in an unexpected hot mic moment on Monday night.
Monday night’s SMU-Florida State matchup produced an unexpected moment during what was a frenetic broadcast for ESPN.
No. 19 SMU traveled to Tallahassee for a nationally televised Labor Day matchup with Florida State. The Seminoles entered the night 1-0 after beating New Mexico State, while SMU was opening its season.
The Worldwide Leader in Sports aired the game from Doak Campbell Stadium.
The matchup took an unexpected turn before either team could settle into the game. A power outage struck Doak Campbell Stadium just before the scheduled 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The resulting delay lasted nearly two hours before the teams finally began playing at 9:15 p.m.
That bizarre delay also created unusual circumstances for ESPN‘s broadcast. The stadium operated without several normal features, including the public-address system and scoreboard. Coaches also lost their normal coach-to-player communication and sideline tablets.
ESPN Broadcast Faced Unusual Conditions Before Kickoff
Aug 31, 2018; Madison, WI, USA; ESPN College Football logo on a tv camera (Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)
The network was forced to fill an extended stretch of airtime while officials and stadium personnel worked through the power problem.
Sideline reporter Taylor McGregor became a particularly important part of the coverage during the delay. She provided updates from the stadium as officials assessed whether enough lighting remained for the game to continue.
The game ultimately went on as planned, but the unusual broadcast environment produced another memorable moment.
At one point, an ESPN anchor appeared to be caught on a live microphone while speaking off-camera. A clip shared by BrickCenter captured the unexpected audio.
The anchor was heard saying:
“Get the f**k out.”
ESPN anchor caught on a hot mic:
“Get the f*ck out” 😭 pic.twitter.com/vorl3UZI2F
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) September 8, 2026
The footage does not establish exactly who the comment was directed toward or what prompted it. It does, however, appear to capture a private exchange that reached the broadcast unexpectedly.
That makes the moment particularly fitting for a game that had already gone badly off script.
SMU Eventually Added Another Twist With A Late Victory
Florida State Seminole fans gather to be in the background of the ACC Huddle pregame show (Photo via Reuters Connect)
Once the game finally began, SMU and Florida State delivered a competitive ACC opener.
The Mustangs took control early and carried a 17-10 advantage into halftime. Florida State continued battling and eventually pulled level during the second half.
Kevin Jennings then produced one of the strongest performances of his career. The SMU quarterback finished with 430 passing yards and three touchdowns while overcoming two interceptions.
Florida State also received a strong rushing performance from Ousmane Kromah. He rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, giving the Seminoles a consistent threat on the ground.
The game ultimately came down to the final minute. SMU drove into position for Nick Reed, who converted a 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining.
That kick gave the Mustangs a 27-24 victory and spoiled Florida State’s ACC opener.
So, after a power failure delayed the game, a makeshift broadcast environment and a dramatic finish, ESPN somehow added a hot-mic moment to the evening.
