Final Four announcers 2026: Meet the TBS broadcasters, from Ian Eagle to Grant Hill
Final Four announcers 2026: Meet the TBS broadcasters, from Ian Eagle to Grant Hill originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.It feels like the 2026 NCAA Tournament just began, but all of a sudden, there are just three games left before a champion is crowned.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 feature No. 3 Illinois taking on No. 2 UConn. The second game will pit No. 1 Michigan against No. 1 Arizona. The winners of the games will meet on Monday, April 6, in the national championship game.CBS will once again be in charge of broadcasting the Final Four. The network has been responsible for this year's tournament games, so the broadcast team will likely be the one fans have seen at least oncesince the 2026 NCAA Tournament began.Here is more on who is calling the 2026 men's Final Four games.MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket| TV schedule | Latest news and moreFinal Four 2026 announcersThis year's Final Four will be broadcast by CBS. The company has been responsible for the Final Four since 1983. Jim Nantz called Final Four matchups for 30 years, but after his retirement, the networkturned to Ian Eagle to lead the broadcast team.Eagle, Bill Raftery and Grant Hill will be on the call, with Tracy Wolfson serving as the sideline reporter. The group will also be joined by Gene Steratore, a rules analyst who will provide insight after questionable calls or during reviews.NetworkPlay-by-playColor CommentatorColor CommentatorSideline ReporterRules AnalystCBSIan EagleBill RafteryGrant HillTracy WolfsonGene SteratoreIan EagleEagle was elevated to CBS's top basketball broadcast team in 2024, taking over for Nantz. He has been calling basketball for more than 25 years, first joining CBS's March Madness coverage in 1998.Besides college basketball, Eagle also calls NFL games for CBS, including a handful of playoff games over the last 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: Final Four picks, predictions against the spreadBill RafteryRaftery is one of the most experienced announcers in college basketball. After coaching Farleigh Dickinson and Seton Hall from 1963-1981, he joined CBS as a broadcaster in 1983, beginning a new career that has lasted over 40 years.Raftery has worked for CBS, ESPN, Fox and Turner Sports throughout his time in the media and calls a large number of college basketball games every year. He got promoted to CBS's top broadcast team for college basketball in 2015. Raftery is now 82 years old, but his classic catchphrase, "Onions," in big moments is still a fan favorite.Grant HillHill is the lone member of this team who played college basketball and made it to the NBA. After spending his collegiate career at Duke, he played in the NBA from 1994 to 2013 with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers.As is a trend with many players and their post-career endeavors, Hill got into broadcasting. He joined Raftery and Nantz on CBS's top broadcasting team in 2015 after being hired by the network in 2014. 2026 will mark his 11th consecutive year calling the Final Four.Hill was a four-year star at Duke from 1991-94, including two national titles in 1991 and 1992, while averaging 14.9 points and 6.0 rebounds over 129games. After graduating, Hill played 18 seasons in the NBA for four teams, retiringin 2013.MORE: Where does UConn's Braylon Mullins' buzzer-beater rank all-time?Tracy WolfsonWolfson is likely more known for her work covering NFL games, but she has adapted her talents from the field to the hardcourt. She has been working with CBS since 2004, first as a college football sideline reporter and then as the top NFL sideline reporter starting in 2014.Wolfson has covered the Final Four since 2008, making her the most experienced member of this broadcast crew.Gene SteratoreSteratore's voice is recognizable from serving as the rules analyst for NFL games. He was a football referee for 15 years, but he also doubled as a college basketball referee from 1997 to 2018. Steratore brings that knowledge base to CBS college basketball broadcasts and is consulted after close calls, but especially during reviews, weighing in on what he thinks the call should be.Final Four scheduleMatchupTime (ET)ChannelNo. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 UConn6:09 p.m.TBSNo. 1 Michigan vs. No. 1 Arizona8:49 p.m.TBSNBA SCOUTING REPORTS:UConn's Alex KarabanMichigan's Yaxel LendeborgDuke's Cam BoozerSt. John's Zuby EjioforVanderbilt's Tyler TannerPurdue's Braden SmithIowa's Bennett StirtzArkansas' Darius Acuff, Jr.Alabama's Labaron Philon, Jr.St. Louis' Robbie AvilaMichigan State's Jeremy Fears, Jr.
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