Klatt Critiques NCAA Tournament, Suggests Major Changes
March Madness? Well, according to Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt, it resembles more of a March Sadness.
The former college football player and lead color commentator for Fox has stepped outside his usual role, labeling the NCAA Basketball Tournament as a “joke” for its approach in determining a national champion among the 68 teams.
“Honestly, I think this is, without a doubt, the hottest take I’ve ever had: the NCAA Basketball Tournament is a joke,” Klatt remarked in a recent discussion on Next Round. “It’s the least fair tournament in sports. We place teams on neutral fields at strange times for single-elimination matches. How does that truly establish a champion? It doesn’t reflect who the best team is over an entire season.”
Klatt suggested a potential fix: higher-seeded teams should participate in multiple games, ideally with home-field advantages during a group stage.
His concept oddly resembles the format of the World Cup more than the current NCAA setup.
If this overhaul were enacted—which is unlikely—the beloved “Cinderella” stories of college basketball would likely vanish. You know, those incredible upsets like a #2 seed losing to a #15 or the surprising three-pointers.
When the host pointed out that the existing format benefits CBS, Klatt countered, “Sure, but it’s not great for the fans.”
While Klatt’s views may not resonate with college basketball enthusiasts, they’re undeniably gaining traction among football fans.
This conversation began as they touched on the inclusion of Group of Five teams, namely Tulane and James Madison, in this year’s 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP).
Both teams are significantly behind as they head into this weekend’s matchups, and their coaches are already considering new opportunities for next season.
This situation clearly doesn’t sit well with fans from teams like Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and Texas. They could have been contenders for those 12 spots but were partially edged out to make room for the G5 teams.
However, Klatt emphasizes that G5 teams aren’t necessarily expected to be the “Cinderella” stories. It’s widely understood that a G5 team winning is simply not in the cards. They’re included mainly to sidestep potential legal issues.
“This inclusion could improve public opinion, but it really hinges on finances and legal matters,” Klatt noted. “The only reason the G5 teams are in the playoff is to avoid antitrust lawsuits. That’s the bottom line. Nobody in football is excited about James Madison or George Mason making it to the Final Four. We want to see the best teams face each other at the end.”
The need for G5 teams, at the expense of programs like Notre Dame and Texas, is a significant part of the discussion about potentially expanding the playoff field from 12 to 16 teams.
