John Williams Will Compose A New Theme For ESPN's College Football Playoffs

TV & Film

Jan 6

Although John Williams announced he was retiring from scoring films (Indiana Jones 5 will be his last), it looks as if he has not given up work completely. At age 90, he has penned a new theme for ESPN’s College Football Playoff National Championship. Despite being more famous for Hollywood blockbusters such as Jaws, E.T., and Star Wars, this is not the first time John Williams has composed for a sporting event. He wrote the music used for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, as well as NBC’s iconic Sunday Night Football (The Mission). Williams is the second most decorated individual at the Oscars, beaten only by Walt Disney, so it’s a great coup for ESPN to have landed him.

The new score will appear with graphics and visuals that support the pieces’ themes of ‘fear and anticipation, triumph and failure’. Expect William’s usual grandiose work, as the three-and-a-half minute long, Of Grit and Glory is performed by a 96-piece orchestra. It will be aired on Monday 9th January 7:30 PM ET on Monday night on ESPN before the match-up between TCU and Georgia at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

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