Jess Sims showed up at Michigan’s Big House on Saturday morning prepared for anything—except, apparently, keeping her language perfectly tidy.
While delivering her pregame weather hit for ESPN, the sideline reporter let a very real, very unscripted reaction slip out on live television, and the moment instantly became the talk of the broadcast.
When the Cold Wins the Fight
Bundled tightly in multiple layers and sporting ear muffs that could probably double as pillows, Sims was asked what the weather felt like on the field.
That’s when she blurted out exactly what was on her mind: that it was “cold as s***” in the stadium.
Millions of viewers heard it.
The studio heard it. And the studio panel’s faces—Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit, and Nick Saban—were priceless.
A Panel Left Speechless… Almost
The reaction rolled in instantly. Host Rece Davis managed to turn the slip into a running joke, teasing, “If you’re keeping score at home, that’s Jess’ first bad word.”
Sims, clearly amused by her own milestone, proudly declared, “Yes! It took four years but I finally made it!”
A Familiar Face on the Road
At 36, Sims has become one of ESPN’s most recognizable on-site personalities for college football, joining fans, players, and coaches nationwide since 2022.
She also appears frequently in men’s college basketball coverage and, in 2023, added Good Morning America to her résumé.
But even with all that experience, nothing quite toughens you up for a Michigan cold front.
Layering Like a Warrior
Before she ever stepped into the stadium, Sims was already prepping her followers on Instagram for the weather challenge ahead.
At 8:02 a.m., she snapped a photo from her hotel room and ran through the full inventory of gear she had on.
Three tops, a shearling-lined coat, heat-tech leggings, pants over the leggings, two kinds of socks—one set rechargeable—and enough accessories to fill a winter survival pack.
She joked she was “ready for war,” and honestly, she wasn’t exaggerating.
The Big House Doesn’t Play
Even with all those layers, her morning weather report made it clear: nothing was stopping the brutal chill inside the largest stadium in America.
Over 107,000 fans were expected to fill the Big House, but Mother Nature was planning to show up too.
Winter Storm Incoming
Forecasts pointed to a true winter showdown.
At kickoff, temperatures were expected to sit around 28 degrees, and by early afternoon, snow flurries would start drifting across the field—adding a dramatic backdrop to one of college football’s biggest rivalries.
A Rivalry With a Long Memory
And the stakes? Huge.
No. 1 Ohio State arrived undefeated at 11–0, looking to break a brutal streak that’s haunted them for years.
Michigan, sitting at 9–2 and ranked No. 15, has kept the Buckeyes from a win for 2,191 days—since November 2019.
Saturday’s game wasn’t just about bragging rights.
It was about ending (or extending) a streak that’s become almost mythical.
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