ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit was overcome after his alma mater Ohio State won the national championship. On air after the 34-23 win by the Buckeyes over Notre Dame, the 55-year-old broadcaster attributed the need to reach for a tissue to his close ties to the team — but in a guest spot on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday,

The Buckeyes beat Notre Dame, 34-23, in the national title game. After the game, Herbstreit broke down into tears when talking about how inspiring this Ohio State run through the playoff was after losing to Michigan earlier in the season. That would be all well and good, except for the fact that Herbstreit played quarterback for OSU from 1989-1993.

ESPN broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit felt all the emotions during his postgame debrief with Scott Van Pelt and Chris Fowler after his Ohio State Buckeyes won the College Football Playoff national title.

Kirk Herbstreit pulled back the curtains on why he was so emotional after Ohio State’s national championship win over Notre Dame on Monday night.

Kirk Herbstreit was emotional during ESPN's postgame, but insisted, "When I call these games I'm incredibly objective."

Kirk Herbstreit wasn’t able to hold back his emotions after Ohio State won the national championship on Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the longtime ESPN college football analyst brought to tears while he was live on the air.

Kirk Herbstreit was emotional following Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame in the national title game, and on Tuesday he revealed he had more than the game on his mind. While appearing on Pat McAfee’s show on ESPN, the popular announcer said that his wife, Alli, has been battling cancer.

Kirk Herbstreit reached for a tissue and got emotional when talking about the Buckeyes' win on ESPN on Monday night.

Look: ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit reveals why he got emotional on Sports Center following Ohio State football's national championship:

Kirk Herbstreit addressed his tears that were seen on the ESPN broadcast after Ohio State won the national title, when he revealed his wife, Ally, was diagnosed with breast cancer.