Robert Griffin III tried to start the 2023 college football season with a “splash,” but instead, he started it with a tear.

The ex-NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst filmed his opening comments for the Washington-Boise State broadcast on a boat, and near the end of the segment, Griffin jumped into the water with spectators watching.

“Some people ride the wave, but other people make waves,” Griffin said. “And Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies made waves last year. No. 1 passing offense in the country. They finished eighth in the Heisman voting. And now they come back with a roster filled with NFL guys — or as I like to call them, Sunday guys — with a championship mindset.

“You know, speaking of making waves, I’m so excited for the college football season to be back,” Griffin continued. “Let’s go ahead and start this bad boy with a splash.” 

His blue pants split mid-air as soon as he jumped from the boat, though, creating an awkward moment on live television.

As the fans cheered, Griffin popped above the water and another ESPN broadcaster said, “Someone get that man a life preserver, and get him to the booth.”

“I ripped my pants!” Griffin shouted after surfacing. “My pants are falling off.”

Griffin joked about the ruined pants, posting a photo on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he held the pair and wore a towel around his waist.

He also posted a two-photo meme with one capturing his torn pants and another depicting SpongeBob SquarePants with ripped pants.

“College football is back with a splash…And a rip of pants!” Griffin wrote in another post, while adding a laughing emoji.

Griffin joined Bob Wischusen and Kris Budden as the ESPN broadcasters for Washington’s season-opening win — a 56-19 outcome against Boise State — in Seattle, Wash.

Penix Jr., who Griffin complimented in his opening comments, completed 29 of 40 passes for 450 yards and five touchdowns.

Since arriving at the network in 2021, Griffin, a former Heisman Trophy winner, has served as a college football and NFL analyst for ESPN.

He transitioned into broadcasting following an NFL career that lasted eight seasons and featured tenures with Washington, the Browns and the Ravens.

His resume includes being a top-five pick in the NFL Draft (No. 2 overall in 2012) and winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and one Pro Bowl selection.