The Iconic March Madness Theme Song's Enduring Legacy

How a melody composed in a Manhattan apartment became the soundtrack of college basketball

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:20pm

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An extreme close-up of a basketball's textured leather surface, shot in dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting to evoke the energy and drama of the NCAA tournament.The iconic March Madness theme song's enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to capture the excitement and emotion of college basketball's biggest tournament.Today in Dayton

More than three decades ago, composer Bob Christianson created the instantly recognizable theme song for CBS's NCAA tournament coverage. The catchy, percussive melody has become a beloved part of the March Madness experience, evoking feelings of excitement and nostalgia for college basketball fans. Despite some attempts to modernize the tune over the years, the core of Christianson's composition remains the same today, a testament to its enduring popularity and the emotional connection it has forged with viewers.

Why it matters

The March Madness theme song has become an integral part of the NCAA tournament's cultural identity, transcending its role as mere background music. Its longevity is a result of CBS's unwavering commitment to the melody, as well as the song's ability to capture the energy and passion of college basketball in a way that resonates deeply with fans.

The details

In 1992, CBS Sports held a contest to find new theme music for its NCAA tournament telecasts. Composer Bob Christianson, who had previously created themes for other sports networks, submitted a recording that he had composed in his Manhattan apartment. The melody, which features a percussive opening and an iconic repeating structure, was selected and has remained the soundtrack of March Madness ever since. While CBS has occasionally updated the song to keep it sounding modern, the core of Christianson's original composition has endured, becoming as synonymous with the tournament as brackets and buzzer-beaters.

  • In 1992, CBS Sports held a contest to find new theme music for its NCAA tournament telecasts.
  • Christianson submitted his recording in 1992 and it was selected as the new NCAA tournament theme.
  • The theme song has been used by CBS for the NCAA tournament since 1993.

The players

Bob Christianson

A composer who created the iconic NCAA tournament theme song for CBS in 1992.

Doug Towey

A former CBS Sports executive who selected Christianson's recording as the new NCAA tournament theme.

Stefanie Acevedo

An assistant professor of music theory at the University of Dayton who has fond memories of the March Madness theme from her time in a college basketball pep band.

Pete Radovich

The creative director at CBS Sports who has overseen the use of Christianson's theme song over the years.

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What they’re saying

“If you sit down at the piano, your fingers go where they're comfortable. You're going to write something that's pretty much the same old s***.”

— Bob Christianson, Composer

“Your emotional connection to March Madness is really important to the longevity of the theme. It's not just an earworm that gets stuck in your head. It also has all this emotional connotation that goes along with it.”

— Stefanie Acevedo, Assistant Professor of Music Theory, University of Dayton

“What we have is the best-case scenario. When you find that great piece of music, why would you mess with it?”

— Pete Radovich, Creative Director, CBS Sports

What’s next

CBS Sports has no plans to move away from Christianson's iconic NCAA tournament theme song, as it has become deeply ingrained in the cultural identity of March Madness.

The takeaway

The enduring popularity of Bob Christianson's NCAA tournament theme song is a testament to the power of music to evoke strong emotional connections. Despite occasional attempts to modernize the tune, the core of Christianson's composition has remained the soundtrack of college basketball, cementing its status as an indelible part of the March Madness experience.