New ESPN scorebug slammed as NFL fans rage at ‘TikTok-ification’ of TV coverage

A new NFL season means a brand new scorebug for ESPN.

The network is gearing up to broadcast the Super Bowl for the first time ever in February 2027, and Thursday’s preseason game saw the soft launch of both a scorebug and new graphics package.

ESPN

It’s expected both will resemble what NFL fans will see during the big game next year. The network has also announced changes to its line-up for Monday Night Countdown ahead of the 2026 season.

ESPN debut new broadcast package ahead of Super Bowl coverage

The new scorebug features team logos on each side, set over a clean gradient of each team’s colors.

In Thursday’s case, it featured black and white, and red and black, for a clash between the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans.

Both down and distance sit clearly in the center, with the game clock and play clock under that.

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According to Awful Announcing, the restyling is in line with ESPN’s rebrand ahead of the launch of its direct-to-consumer product a year ago.

The new graphics also look clean.

One example shows an animation of Texans quarterback CJ Stroud on the left of the screen, with some of his stats listed for good measure, as the Houston offense lined up on the field.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to elevate our fan experience, we are excited to soft launch a brand new graphics and animation package that will culminate with our first-ever Super Bowl,” an ESPN spokesperson told Awful Announcing of the new package.

The outlet added in a report that ESPN described Thursday’s debut as a ‘soft launch’ because it plans to consider slight redesigns and tweaks throughout the season, to refine the new look ahead of the Super Bowl.

Both internal and external feedback will be considered for any refinements, Awful Announcing reports.

ESPN

ESPN

ESPN

As perhaps expected, the new scorebug split opinion.

Fans react as ESPN ‘soft launches’ new scorebug and graphics

“Why does it always get worse?” one asked on X.

“Not a fan. Way too much dead space,” a second said.

“I hate how boring ESPN got with their bugs,” a third wrote.

“Sucks, get it off my screen immediately,” a fourth begged.

A prominent X account also pointed out that the ‘TikTok-ification’ of the NFL‘s TV scorebugs is officially complete, given all are now centered on the screen and could easily be cut to fit into frame for a 9:16 aspect ratio, used widely when posting on social media.

Others, though, suggested the new scorebug does the job, and some fans don’t think the presentation is a massive deal.

“With all due respect, the scorebug is so irrelevant to the TV experience. Maybe I’m crazy?” one asked.

“People will hate it cause that’s what we do now,” another said.

“Like it — doesn’t overtake the screen,” a third wrote.

“ESPN finally did something right, the other one they were using looked terrible,” a fourth said.

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“Little overkill on the gradient but it’s not bad,” a fifth concluded.

Like many NFL teams, ESPN is using the preseason to try some things out.

The new broadcast package no doubt resembles what fans will see throughout the 2026 season, heading towards Super Bowl LXI.

But tweaks can, and probably will, be made before the network’s first regular-season game on September 14.