Inside ESPN's new college football song: Why Shaboozey's 'High Noon' was picked for 2026 anthem

A new ear-worm has come to prominence this summer. ESPN is looking to use it to drum up support for its college football coverage in the fall.

The worldwide leader has long shown a penchant for adorning its college football broadcasts with a familiar tune. The 2026 season will be no exception. The television titan has found a new artist to help kickoff its telecast of high-profile matchups. Odds are that you might know his name.

With that, here's what you need to know about "High Noon", the Shaboozey ditty set to take hold of ESPN's airwaves during college football broadcasts.

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Shaboozey ESPN college football song for 2026

ESPN enlisted one of country music's biggest stars to soundtrack its college football broadcasts. Shaboozey, a self-described football enthusiast who starred on the gridiron while growing up in Woodbridge, Virginia, was deemed the perfect representative for the collegiate game by ESPN executives.

The "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" artist is back for more with "High Noon", one of the more ear-catching offerings from his latest album, "The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales." Featuring famed rapper Gunna, the track has swiftly emerged as a favorite for fans of the Empire Record-signed artist.

“ESPN is the home of college football, and our annual music anthem has become a signature part of how fans welcome the season," ESPN director of marketing Maggie Lewin said in a press release. "It has grown into a tradition of its own, a signal college football is back and it sets the tone for everything fans love about the sport. We are extremely excited to collab with both Shaboozey and Gunna and welcome them into this seasonal tradition.”

Shaboozey expressed similar sentiments in a statement issued on July 31.

“It’s so exciting to have ‘High Noon’ as the anthem for this upcoming college football season on ESPN,” Shaboozey said. “I’m excited for the song to be part of the energy, tradition, and memories of game day.”

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'High Noon' lyrics

Tryna knock me off my feet, still standing
With more money than I came with (Hot damn)
Took a loss, but I'm still a gambling man
Bettin' all the chips that I got left (I'm all in)
Didn't talk to the law, it's a damn good way
Spend another 40K on my wrist (Top that)
Aw, hell nah, I don't need another shot
'Cause I'm already feeling this fifth

At the crossroads, the devil I know
Tell him he can get it back in blood

Meet at high noon and shut it down
Everything we do, we do it loud
Everywhere we go, we bring a crowd
When we at the bar, tell 'em bring another round
Meet at high noon and shut it down
Someone call Jack, bring him out
If it ain't a hundred proof, then pour it out
Meet me at the bar, guaranteed we tear it down

Hittin' crossroads, slamming Rolls Roycе doors
Countin' ten million off shows, spend a hundred thou' on clothеs
I got bad h—, they got pretty pink toes
Better put that mink on, put some diamonds in her gold
Five hundred on my wrist, goddamn, a n— lit
Copped a 'Rari truck, sent it back and added a kit
My folks from the country and ain't have a pot to piss
Young Gunna went country with Shaboozey in this b—

At the crossroads, the devil I know
Said let's make a deal, but I don't take loans
To the folks I wronged that'll never let go
And tell 'em they can get it back in blood

Meet at high noon and shut it down
Everything we do, we do it loud
Everywhere we go, we bring a crowd
When we at the bar, tell 'em bring another round
Meet at high noon and shut it down
Someone call Jack, bring him out
If it ain't a hundred proof, then pour it out
Meet me at the bar, guaranteed we tear it down

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ESPN college football song history

Shaboozey becomes the 13th artist to have their song selected as ESPN's college football anthem. He joins a star-laden list that includes Fall Out Boy, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Imagine Dragons and Juice Wrld, among other standouts.

Here is a history of the ESPN college football theme song:

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