The 2026 NCAA Tournament is nearly through the second round. The tournament has had some fun upsets and a few buzzer beaters, but there has been one notable change.
CBS is known for broadcasting the first two rounds and in between games and during halftime, coverage cuts to a studio with a panel of basketball greats. Fans are used to hearing the iconic cadence of Ernie Johnson but this year Johnson isn't on the desk. Instead, he was replaced by former NFL player Nate Burleson.
The former wide receiver has shined in during NFL pre-game coverage, including appearances on kid-friendly, such as Nickelodeon's "NFL Slimetime." Given that his background is in a different sport, many viewers were left scratching their heads, wondering why Burleson was tagged as the host for March Madness coverage Sunday instead of Johnson.
Here is more on why Burleson has been manning CBS' March Madness desk during coverage instead of Ernie Johnson.
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Why Nate Burleson is hosting March Madness
Burleson has been increasingly visible for CBS' football coverage during the season. But one of the main reasons, per Front Office Sports' Ryan Glasspiegel, that CBS is testing to see whether Burleson could eventually replace James Brown as the host of "NFL Today."
Johnson also reportedly asked to step back from some of his March Madness responsibilities to focus on working with the "Inside the NBA" crew that moved from TNT to ESPN this season. It was a planned absence on Johnson's part, and in a statement, he said that he would be missing the first two weeks of March Madness. Johnson is expected to return for coverage of the Men's Final Four and the National Championship game.
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Where is Ernie Johnson?
Johnson requested additional time off this season from CBS. In a statement to NJ.com, Johnson said that he requested to take a step back for the first two weeks of March Madness, adding that he appreciated the support from TNT and CBS Sports and expected to be back for the Final Four and National Championship.
It is unclear whether the 69-year-old was taking time off for health reasons, to spend time with family, or to accommodate a new schedule for "Inside the NBA" with ESPN, but he is expected to return to his normal CBS studio role after the first two weekends of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
