Nantz stepping down from NCAA Tournament after this year

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 13: CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz during the men's Big Ten tournament college basketball game between the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes on March 13, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire)

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Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

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Comments 12

esl says:

4 years ago

I am thrilled to see this happen for Ian Eagle. He is #1 caliber and glad he is getting an opportunity.
To be honest, I never thought Nantz should be doing the NCAA tournament. I never liked the fact that he did no regular season games and just helicoptered in for the tournament. Yes, I know he does football. But he should have at least done the opening game on CBS, and maybe a few in Feb before the tournament. Not fair to all the pxp guys who are there all season. They all see Nantz flies in for the tournament and gets to do the championship. I cant think of any other announcer who never did one game prior to the post season in any other sport.
Paulsen, can you think of any other pxp announcer who didnt do any regular season games for sports and just jumped in for the post season? You cant say Costas because he does baseball on the MLB network. Joe Buck towards the end of his baseball run on Fox did just a few games prior to the LCS and World Series. But, he always did the opening week on Fox, and a few games before the All-Star game.
- Paulsen says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  Costas in the 1990s when NBC only came in for the postseason.
  - esl says:
    
    4 years ago
    
    True. But, different circumstance. Costas didn’t have any option to do MLB during the season (no MLB network back then). He definitely would have done baseball if there was an opportunity on NBC. Nantz could have done college BB, he just didnt do it.
- Ryan Strnad says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  It pretty much naturally worked out that way and because of his contract. When Nantz was given the lead NCAAMB play by play job in 1990-91 (working with the Billy Packer) he was way down the depth chart on its Sunday afternoon NFL (NFC road team) broadcasts and would often miss those games for basketball & golf duties (where he was behind Pat Summerall on its golf coverage). Since way back then, he’s elevated to the lead announcer in all those properties. Now IDK if his contract (which he recently renewed for 8 figs a year) gives him a choice as to which sports he can prioritize on “conflict weekends” (football in particular but he did miss the NFL for that rescheduled Nov Masters in ’20) but something softer like less rated February golf tournaments he can choose either that or his basketball, but you would have to think that his contract says that the NCAA Tournament is his to lose in that regard. In fact, Nantz said in his book that when Brent Musburger got fired in ’90 that CBS gave him the choice of being the lead NCAAMB lead announcer or hosting The NFL Today and Nantz obviously chose the former (hed also get to choose NFL Today when CBS regained those right in ’98 & it was said he had the choice of being #1 NFL pbp then as well which he would take 6 years after when he swapped with Greg Gumbel). In all, Nantz has garnered a lot of power over there, and early on he would usually work a full college basketball season until about 1998.
Samuel says:

4 years ago

So what I take from this if you connect it with Costas getting the “A” series for the ALDS is that Brian Anderson is actually slipping on the Turner depth chart where it looked like he was heading straight to the top a few years ago. He also shockingly got snubbed as the new voice of the NBA, losing out to Kevin Harlan. I wonder what Turner doesn’t like about Anderson. Because he’s pretty solid and there’s no reason for him to lose out on big roles to all three of Costas, Eagle and Harlan in the span of one year. He only gets to do the LCS because Costas has to replace Ernie Johnson during the start of the NBA. Very strange how he isn’t looked at as high since Warner Bros Discovery took over. Meanwhile, also shocking with no explanation as to why Nantz is done calling the NCAA. He’s only 63 and still going strong in the other sports. It’s almost like Buck deciding to give up doing baseball. Just a lot of change going on in sports media recently and it’s fascinating to watch it all unfold.
- Ryan Strnad says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  And Nantz just signed an (I believe) eight figure a year extension just 2 or 3 years ago. Like get paid NOT to work.
- Dale Moog says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  He said he want to be home a little more in the spring since he got remarried latter in life and has young kids. He said he wanted to be a better father this time around and that meant spending a little less time on the road.
  - Nate Johnson says:
    
    4 years ago
    
    Dale, I want to believe Nantz, but if he’s for real about being with family he would shorten his PGA schedule in addition to leaving the Madness. Moving on from the NFL would probably be too radical even to spend more time with family given his status and role, but it’s still another option on the table that is reasonable (Madden left the booth unexpectedly in 2009 to be with his family). Nantz, I believe is reducing a workload on his career and is sticking with the better of his two-thirds.
Nate Johnson says:

4 years ago

Congrats to Ian Eagle! Very proud for him come 2024. I must say it’s somewhat Interesting that the Madness is still sticking with a primary CBS voice* to do the Final Four. When Nantz was going through negotiations with CBS in 2020 or 2021 (can’t remember which year), I believed that Eagle was next up to call the Final Four (and Super Bowl on CBS), but at the same time with Turner covering most of the Madness bill it seemed to me they would’ve had leverage to put Brian Anderson on the Final Four which wouldnt guarantee Eagle that gig. That tells me with all the changes that’s been going on in Turner decision makers they’re not all-in on Anderson as initial thought years ago.

Very good news to see though. It was time for Nantz to move on. Interesting how he’ll still handle the trophy presentation with hardly any contribution to the coverage.

I guess the question now is who’s number 4 come 2024? Im only talking about play-by-play. To me the easy decision would be Brad Nessler. With that said, Im not sure if it should
be a gimme because of Nessler’s profile. In a way I do believe he should earn it. Eagle and Harlan earned it when they brought March Madness energy when they were first weekend only voices of the Madness. Nessler hasnt brought that energy and he seems to calls the action like he did when he called RS ball back on ESPN. That wouldnt be fair to Catalon, Dedes, Byington, or McCarthy who brings a lot of energy come Madness time. For the record, I enjoy listening to Nessler present and past football games, but nothing sticks out on the basketball end.

*I get it that Eagle been used a lot more on Turner with the NBA in recent seasons, but when the deal began he was CBS, no Turner and was only a 1st weekend voice).
- Dale Moog says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  Tom McCarthy would be my choice for second week over some of the others mentioned also Carter Blackburn should get the call full time since he keeps getting the part time treatment
  - Nate Johnson says:
    
    4 years ago
    
    Blackburn was replaced by Byington last March. I thought Byington stood out in 2021 when they had a social distanced Madness and it earned her to defeat Blackburn in 2022. Blackburn I was no fan of at all as the SEC on CBS 2nd voice and in College Basketball so no surprised on him being replaced.
Matt says:

4 years ago

A chance for Jim to go out calling a University of Houston national championship in Houston