Why Bruce Pearl is on CBS’s Selection Sunday show broadcast in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Along with being Auburn basketball’s winningest coach and second-fastest NCAA coach to reach 300 victories (Roy Williams is the fastest), Bruce Pearl will appear on TNT’s Selection Sunday show.
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Pearl recently made headlines by going after Miami (Ohio)’s team, saying they were not one of the “68 best teams” if they were to qualify for March Madness. Miami’s fans were not happy with this take and threw backlash at Pearl for his comments.
After leaving Auburn’s head coach position just before the 2025-2026 season, Pearl has worked on TNT’s college basketball coverage, along with serving an advisory role to Auburn’s basketball program.
Let’s take a look at why Bruce Pearl was included, along with his broadcasting career.
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Who is hosting Selection Sunday?
This year, CBS and TNT will have joint coverage of the Selection Sunday show.
On TNT, Adam Lefkoe will host in Atlanta along with Bruce Pearl, Jamal Mashburn, Jalen Rose, and Seth Davis. Auburn’s former coach will also appear in the CBS studios along with TNT.
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Why Bruce Pearl is on Selection Sunday
Bruce Pearl has been a part of TNT’s college basketball coverage staff this year, which would explain his inclusion on the Selection Sunday show.
Despite the backlash received by many X (formerly Twitter) users to the post above, TNT appears to be sticking with Pearl on the show. College basketball fans appear not to like Pearl’s frequent discussion of his former and son’s current coached team of Auburn.
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It will be interesting to hear if Pearl mentions their likely absence from this year’s tournament after losing 72-62 to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament.
MORE: How Auburn’s SEC Tournament loss can affect Miami (Ohio)
Bruce Pearl broadcasting career
After retiring from Auburn, Pearl has appeared on TNT and CBS’s college basketball coverage team. With the programs, he has added commentary courtside for some games and sat at the desk for NCAA Tournament March Madness coverage.
This year, Pearl will appear on TNT’s Selection Sunday show. Many on social media were dissatisfied with this news, due to Pearl’s frequent references to the Tigers’ basketball program and his previous comments about Miami (Ohio).
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When did Bruce Pearl retire?
Bruce Pearl announced his retirement from his post as Auburn’s head coach on September 22, 2025. shortly before the 2025-26 season. In his 11-year tenure, he achieved two Final Four appearances (2019, 2025).
Pearl stepped down as the winningest coach in Auburn program history to take an advisory role, and his son, Steven, took over as head coach. Today, Pearl also broadcasts for TNT’s college basketball coverage.
