Perhaps I’m reading too much into this, but I couldn’t help but wonder if Brent Musburger was sending a signal last night at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Over an aerial shot of the Rose Bowl, Musburger uttered his signature phrase, “You are looking live…”

It seemed like an unusual time to pull out the line. Musburger usually uses it at the beginning of a game.

If last night’s game was indeed Musburger’s final call of a big game, did he purposely want to slip in one last “You are looking live…” for old time’s sake? Definitely seems plausible.

Jason McIntyre of Big Lead wrote previously that Musburger’s contract is up at ESPN. With the playoff starting next season, and with Chris Fowler angling to do more play-by-play, it could be time for ESPN to make a lineup change with its lead college football announcer.

In a tweet last night, James Andrew Miller, author of the mega ESPN book, speculated: “Believe this will be Brent’s last ESPN game. If he stays with ESPN it will be as #1 PxP for new SEC network.”

It makes sense. Musburger lives in Florida. Keeping him in SEC country would reduce some of the travel demands for someone who will turn 75 this year.

However, it is entirely possible that ESPN allows Musburger to usher in the new era for college football. He showed last night that he still has plenty left on his fastball.

Yes, Musburger screwed up the open, calling himself Kirk Herbstreit. It happens.

Instead, focus on the fourth quarter. With the action fast and furious, Musburger rose to the occasion.

He punched the Kermit Whitfield kickoff return with, “And Auburn is stung by its own medicine.”

On Tre Mason’s run to put Auburn back in the lead, he said, “Auburn isn’t out of miracles.”

It was vintage Brent.

If this was Musburger’s last big game, he got a classic. Definitely fitting for a great career.