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DeutschOne of the most important ingredients for an instant classic in March Madness during the NCAA Tournament involves who is on the call for the game.
Nothing in college basketball hits as hard as when Bill Raftery calls out his legendary "onions" when a player hits a clutch shot late in a game, likely making the difference between winning or going home in the single-elimination tournament.
To no shock, when CBS and TNT Sports announced their lineup for announcers for the 2025-26 tournament, Raftery was grouped with Ian Eagle, Grant Hill and Tracy Wolfson for the call on the semifinal and championship game on April 4 and 6, respectively. It will be the third straight year the quartet works together for these games.
Here's a look at who the networks will have on the call for games and studio broadcast during the 2026 NCAA Tournament:
2026 NCAA Tournament game announcers
It's not a shock that Raftery, Eagle, Hill and Wolfson will serve as the lead announcing team throughout the tournament. Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce will form one team through the regional round, while Kevin Harlan, Robbie Hummel, Stan Van Gundy and and Lauren Shehadi form another. Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas and Evan Washburn form the third team.
Here's a look at all the CBS/TNT announcing teams:
- Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill and Tracy Wolfson: Through championship game
- Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce: Through regional finals
- Kevin Harlan, Robbie Hummel, Stan Van Gundy and and Lauren Shehadi: Through regional finals
- Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas and Evan Washburn: Through regional finals
- Brandon Gaudin, Chris Webber and Andy Katz: First and second rounds
- Spero Dedes, Jim Spanarkel and Jon Rothstein: First and second rounds
- Tom McCarthy, Candace Parker, Dan Bonner and AJ Ross: First and second rounds
- Brad Nessler, Wally Szczerbiak and Jared Greenberg: First and second rounds
2026 NCAA Tournament studio analysts
Adam Zucker and Nate Burleson are set to host the studio coverage from New York at the CBS Broadcast Center. Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith will join the duo. Meanwhile, Adam Lefkoe will host the studio coverage from Atlanta, at the TNT Sports Studio. Bruce Pearl, Jamal Mashburn, Jalen Rose and Seth Davis are set to join Lefkoe.
Ernie Johnson will host the studio coverage during the Final Four.
Here's a look at the all the studio analysts this tournament:
- Host: Nate Burleson, New York
- Host: Adam Zucker, New York
- Host: Adam Lefkoe, Atlanta
- Host: Ernie Johnson, Final Four
- Analyst: Clark Kellogg, New York
- Analyst: Charles Barkley, New York
- Analyst: Kenny Smith, New York
- Analyst: Renee Montgomery, New York
- Analyst: Jamal Mashburn, Atlanta
- Analyst: Jalen Rose, Atlanta
- Analyst: Seth Davis, Atlanta
- Analyst: Bruce Pearl, Atlanta
- Game updates: Jamie Erdahl
- Rules analyst: Gene Steratore
2026 NCAA Tournament First Four announcers
The tournament officially tips off on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18 with the First Four games on truTV. Jordan Kent and Spanarkel, with Jenny Dell as the courtside reporter on the call the first game on Tuesday, as well as both games on Wednesday, from Dayton, Ohio.
The second game on Tuesday will be called by Anderson, Barkley and Dick Vitale, with Dell serving as the courtside reporter.
The studio coverage for the First Four games will come from Atlanta, with Lefkoe hosting and analysts Pearl, Mashburn, Rose and Davis joining him.
- Game 1: Jordan Kent, Jim Spanarkel and Jenny Dell
- Game 2: Brian Anderson, Charles Barkley, Dick Vitale and Jenny Dell
- Game 3: Jordan Kent, Jim Spanarkel and Jenny Dell
- Game 4: Jordan Kent, Jim Spanarkel and Jenny Dell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA Tournament announcers for CBS, TNT for 2026 March Madness