Kirk Herbstreit called “Thursday Night Football” on Amazon Prime with a heavy heart. Hours after announcing the death of Ben, his beloved Golden Retriever, Herbstreit was calling the prime-time Ravens vs. Bengals clash.

Ben, Kirk Herbstreit’s adorable golden retriever, who has induced countless smiles on so many college campuses over the past two years, has passed away, according to the ESPN “College GameDay” football analyst.

The “Thursday Night Football” crew mourned the loss of Kirk Herbstreit’s beloved dog, Ben, on the broadcast ahead of a showdown between the Ravens and Bengals.

Kirk Herbstreit, chief analyst on ESPN's "College GameDay" and cohost of the NFL's "Thursday Night Football," announced the death of his golden retriever Ben, whose appearances at football stadiums in recent years made him a beloved four-legged friend to the sports world.

College football analyst Kirk Herbstreit honored the life of his beloved dog, Ben, as part of the ESPN College GameDay broadcast on Saturday. After Ben

Every time you want to give up on humanity, it comes together to show kindness and support. And to no surprise it involves a dog. Because everything gets moved aside when it comes to the concern for canines.

The lumbering golden retriever had been a fixture on "College GameDay" the past two seasons, hiding under the studio desk as Herbstreit appeared on television.