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,

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

Kirk Herbstreit makes a lot of money to call football games. The long-time broadcaster is estimated to make somewhere between $14-18 million per year between his duties calling college football games for ESPN and NFL games on Amazon on Thursday Night Football.

Herbstreit — a Centerville, Ohio, native — graduated from Ohio State after playing with the Buckeyes from 1989 to 1992.

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.