JAMES BATES

Lead Analyst, ACC on The CW Network

​James Bates is the lead analyst for Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) college football on The CW Network.

​A winner of three regional Emmy® Awards, Bates has served as a play-by-play commentator for the Mountain West Conference on CBS Sports and an analyst for the ACC Football Game of the Week since 2016. Bates is also the host of "Portraits" on ESPN and Origin Sports featuring interviews with Hall of Fame coaches and players.

​Bates is a former all-SEC 1st team linebacker for the University of Florida (1993-1996) under coach Steve Spurrier, where he led the team with 137 tackles as a senior and led Florida to four consecutive SEC championships and its first-ever national title in 1996. He was inducted in the Florida / Georgia Football Hall of Fame in October 2014.

​Bates is also an accomplished artist who has had many gallery showings and has acted in several films and television shows, including the Adam Sandler movie "The Waterboy."