Earlier this week, ESPN football analyst Kirk Herbstreit shared the sad news of his golden retriever, Ben’s, passing.

Ben had gained fame and a following at the college football stadiums that Herbstreit frequented as part of ESPN’s “College GameDay.” On Saturday, before the LSU-Alabama game in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ESPN honored Ben with a touching tribute that featured an emotional Herbstreit commenting on the moment. He was visibly moved on the “College GameDay” set as the tribute unfolded:

“Dogs are known as man’s best friend. But what do you call a dog that becomes a nation’s best friend?” Herbstreit reflected in the tribute video. “You call him ‘Ben.’ I’ll be honest, when I first started taking Ben with me on my travels, it was really for my sake. Hotel rooms can often feel isolating. His comforting presence became my connection to home, turning my travels from mere journeys into experiences of belonging.

“When I was working in a hotel or at a broadcast station, just feeling his fur beneath my feet on the ‘College GameDay’ set reminded me of home.”

Herbstreit went on to describe how Ben evolved from being his travel buddy to a national figure cherished by fans across the country.

“Ben didn’t set out to be a social media icon, but he became one just by being himself,” Herbstreit shared. “The Rose Bowl even labeled him the ‘chief happiness officer.’ That was exactly what he did; he spread joy effortlessly. With just a wag of his tail or by cuddling up to strangers as if they were family, he turned them into exactly that.

“Whether on planes, in hotel lobbies, at the beach, or in the mountains, it didn’t matter if you were a college student or a celebrity, or even a state governor—Ben loved everyone. He didn’t discriminate. Everyone deserved his affection. We could all learn from that lesson. In a world that often tries to divide us, our shared love of football brings us together every weekend.

“What I experienced with Ben was much more profound. A dog’s greatest flaw is their short lifespan. Yet the warmth they provide us lasts a lifetime. Therefore, Ben will always remain in our hearts. This dog was not just my best friend; he became America’s best friend.”

Herbstreit announced Ben’s passing on Thursday after a courageous battle with cancer. His last stadium appearance was on October 26 at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, during the game between Texas A&M and LSU.

“This is incredibly difficult to share, but so many of you have cared for Ben, and I wanted you to know. Today, we learned the cancer had spread aggressively through Ben’s organs and there was nothing more we could do—we had to let him go,” Herbstreit said on social media.

Ben received an outpouring of love and support from both humans and dogs, including Washington’s Dubs and Texas A&M’s Reveille. There were numerous signs dedicated to him in the “College GameDay” crowd as well.