The post 2026 Final Four announcers: Meet the TBS announcers, from Ian Eagle to Grant Hill originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
It feels like the 2026 NCAA Tournament has just begun, but suddenly, there are only three games left until a champion is crowned.
advertise
The 2026 Final Four is upon us and the matchups are set. Both Final Four games will be played on Saturday, April 4. The first game of the day will pit No. 3 Illinois against No. 2 UConn. The second game will feature No. 1 Michigan against No. 1 Arizona. The winner of the tournament will advance to the national championship game on Monday, April 6.
CBS will once again handle the broadcast of the Final Four. The network has been handling this year’s tournament games, so fans have likely seen the broadcast team at least once since the start of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Here’s more information on who’s in charge of the men’s Final Four in 2026.
March Madness Headquarters:Live NCAA Brackets | TV Schedule | Latest News & More
advertise
2026 Final Four Announcer
This year’s Final Four will be televised by CBS. The company has been responsible for the Final Four since 1983. Jim Nantz hosted Final Four games for 30 years, but after his retirement, the network turned to Ian Eagle to lead the broadcast team.
Eagle, Bill Raftery and Grant Hill will be on the call, with Tracy Wolfson serving as sideline reporter. The group will also be joined by rules analyst Gene Steratore, who will provide insight during question calls or reviews.
|
network |
game by game |
color commentator |
color commentator |
sideline reporter |
rules analyst |
|
cbs |
Ian Eagle |
Bill Raftery |
Grant Hill |
Tracy Wolfson |
Jean Stratore |
Ian Eagle
In 2024, Eagle replaced Nantz and was promoted to CBS’ top basketball broadcast team. He has been calling basketball for more than 25 years, first participating in CBS’ March Madness coverage in 1998.
advertise
In addition to college basketball, Eagle also broadcasts NFL games for CBS, including some playoff games over the past few years. He also serves as the Nets’ play-by-play announcer during the NBA season and calls some NBA games for Amazon Prime Video.
more: Last four picks, predictions on spread
Bill Raftery
Raftery is one of the most experienced broadcasters in college basketball. After coaching Farley Dickinson and Seton Hall from 1963 to 1981, he joined CBS as a broadcaster in 1983, beginning a new career that spanned more than 40 years.
During his media career, Raftery worked at CBS, ESPN, Fox and Turner Sports, calling a large number of college basketball games each year. In 2015, he was promoted to CBS’ top college basketball broadcast team. Raftery is now 82 years old, but his classic catchphrase “Onion” during important moments is still beloved by fans.
advertise
Grant Hill
Hill is the only member of this team who played college basketball and made it to the NBA. After a college career at Duke University, he played in the NBA from 1994 to 2013 with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers.
As is the trend with many players and their post-career endeavors, Hill entered the world of broadcasting. He was hired by CBS in 2014 and joined Raftery and Nantz on CBS’ top broadcast team in 2015. 2026 will be his 11th consecutive year in the Final Four.
Hill starred at Duke for four years from 1991-94, including two national championships in 1991 and 1992, averaging 14.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in 129 games. After graduation, Hill played 18 seasons in the NBA for four teams before retiring in 2013.
advertise
more: Where does UConn’s Braylon Mullins rank in buzzer-beating history?
Tracy Wolfson
Wolfson may be better known for covering NFL games, but she has taken her talents from the field to the hard court. She has been with CBS since 2004, first as a college football sideline reporter and then as a top NFL sideline reporter starting in 2014.
Wolfson has covered the Final Four since 2008, making her the most experienced member of the broadcast team.
Jean Stratore
Stertorre’s voice is widely known as a rules analyst for NFL games. He was a football referee for 15 years, but from 1997 to 2018, he also served as a college basketball referee. Storre brings that knowledge base to CBS’s college basketball broadcasts and consults with him after critical moments, especially during review, weighing in on how he thinks calls should be made.
advertise
Final Four schedule
|
Contest |
Time (Eastern Time) |
channel |
|
No. 3 University of Illinois vs. No. 2 University of Connecticut |
6:09 pm |
TBS |
|
No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 1 Arizona State |
8:49 pm |
TBS |
NBA Scouting Report:
