Maria Taylor

The ESPN studio host and sideline reporter isn’t just the most stylish personality in sports broadcasting. She’s one of its best prepared and most determined.

- Maggie Reynolds

How did you go from being a basketball and volleyball player at University of Georgia to reporting on the sidelines of a Steelers vs. Giants Monday Night Football game?

I told my athletic director I wanted to work in sports broadcasting from day one. I got my first job because he called Leafield/IMG [sports marketing company] and said, “You have to give Maria a job because she’s in my face every day.” When I got to ESPN I went to my bosses and said, “Hey, one day I’d like to host College GameDay. What are the steps to get me there?” Closed mouths don’t get fed.

And by 2017 you were hosting GameDay. Could you always rattle off stats?

At Georgia, you’re in SEC country and don’t have a social life if you don’t go to games. That’s when I fell in love with football. But when I started