Nothing screams non-stop, high-stakes, basketball action like… the Zac Brown Band?
We’re inching closer and closer to March Madness, which in my opinion gives Christmas a run for its money in the battle for the title of “most wonderful time of the year.” I really don’t know if there is anything better in all of sports.
Buzzer beaters. Heartbreaking defeats. Gambling. Upset alerts. Cinderella Runs. Gambling. Anything and everything is possible in March… and the parts of the tournament that pour over into April. Oh, and by the way, you are only one college basketball parlay away from becoming a millionaire. Never forget that.
Though we’re still a few weeks away from the oh-so-glorious Selection Sunday, there’s already a selection that’s come in for the tournament. Specifically, a song selection… as in the track that CBS and TNT are going to play over and over (and over) again as the anthem of the tournament.
For 2026, that song will be none other than “Give It Away” by the Zac Brown Band. The track featured on their latest album, Love & Fear, was apparently good enough for the higher ups at the networks covering March Madness to adopt as their own for the tournament.
“‘Give It Away’ by Zac Brown Band will be this year’s anthem for March Madness coverage on CBS/TNT. Last year’s song was ‘Abracadabra’ by Lady Gaga.”
God bless the poor soul who watches their favorite team collapse under the pressure of March Madness only to be serenaded with a song called “Give It Away” moments later. If a team loses because of a late-game turnover, that’ll make it even worse.
But getting back to the song selection itself… some are reacting on social media by saying that “Give It Away” doesn’t exactly match the energy of the grandiose, single-elimination tournament. They aren’t actually saying it in that nice of a way. Some social media users are straight up blasting the choice by CBS and TNT:
Garbage
— Reed Row (@msulionsfan) February 24, 2026
holy downgrade :( https://t.co/Dqe1vZcljw
— Nick Dugan (@nickdugansports) February 24, 2026
terrible lmao https://t.co/Kiy8Gsqa4p
— alfonso taylor (@alfonsotay3326) February 24, 2026
Not exactly glowing reviews.
On the flip side, others online have more hopeful views about the song selection. They don’t necessarily sound pumped about the Zac Brown Band acting as this year’s March Madness anthem, but they aren’t being so quick to dismiss it:
It will take a while to catch on, but I feel that’s the way all the anthems have been. I didn’t like Abracadabra and Dance With Everybody in 2024 at first but hearing it enough made me like them
— 😾🧀 (@PopeBy90) February 24, 2026
Yeah that’s a banger https://t.co/atgFVbonKv
— Simba Walker (@SimbaWalker6x) February 24, 2026
There are worse voices to listen to for 261 straight days during the tourney. This is fine. https://t.co/VsUqSqWZVs
— Patrick Flynn (@insulinshots) February 24, 2026
Yeah, lots of “this is fine” remarks.
Out of all the replies to the Zac Brown Band news, I think the best response I’ve seen is this one. It’s very neutral, and suggests that the song selection isn’t anything to get up in arms about:
this is fine and people will overreact. I don’t think there’s been a largely impactful song that has elevated the coverage in a while but ultimately, none of the songs have ever truly detracted from the coverage
— Jordan 🐌👍🏻 (@NotJTompkins) February 24, 2026
Well put.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering, here’s the list of March Madness anthems over the past decade – including the most recent selection of the Zac Brown Band:
2026 – “Give It Away” by Zac Brown Band
2025 – “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga
2024 – “Dance with Everybody” by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors ft. The National Parks
2023 – “Take My Breath” by The Weeknd
2022 – “Freedom” by Jon Batiste
2021 – “Big Love” by Louis the Child ft. EarthGang
2019 – “Lo/Hi” by The Black Keys
2018 – “American Soul” by U2
2017 – “Something Just Like This” by Coldplay & The Chainsmokers
2016 – “Turn Up” by The Heavy
