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Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

35 March Madness prizes that would be better than Jim Nantz’s tie

“Thanks for the tie, Jim, but can I actually have your Netflix log-in?”

NCAA Men’s Final Four - National Championship - Villanova v North Carolina
NCAA Men’s Final Four - National Championship - Villanova v North Carolina
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Jim Nantz announces the NCAA men’s basketball championship game each year for CBS. And each year, Jim Nantz bestows the tie he wears on the senior he believes most deserves it.

Here are 35 things that would be more desirable to receive as a college athlete than Jim Nantz’s used tie.

  1. Jim Nantz’s credit card.
  2. Jim Nantz’s car.
  3. Jim Nantz’s debit card.
  4. Jim Nantz’s free-coffee-after-the-15th-cup card.
  5. Jim Nantz’s Netflix log-in.
  6. A nice, firm handshake.
  7. A nice, firm handshake from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
  8. Good grades.
  9. A pair of cufflinks (higher resale value when it comes to evening wear).
  10. Sound life advice like, “When someone tells you who they are, believe them.”
  11. Sound life advice like, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
  12. Sound life advice like, “Floss.”
  13. Sound life advice like, “Call your grandmother.”
  14. Speaking of your grandmother, a birthday card with $20 in it from your grandmother.
  15. 200 more Twitter followers.
  16. 300 more Instagram followers.
  17. A $45 Buffalo Wild Wings gift card.
  18. A $45 Buffalo Wild Wings gift card with only $7 dollars left on it.
  19. A $45 Buffalo Wild Wings gift card with only $6 dollars left on it.
  20. Requited love from the person back on campus who has evaded you thus far, despite your fame as a big-deal, NCAA championship-winning player.
  21. 15 chocolate-covered almonds.
  22. Jim Nantz’s phone number.
  23. Jim Nantz’s stock portfolio.
  24. Jim Nantz’s frequent flier miles.
  25. The free coffee from the used-up, free-coffee-after-the-15th-cup card.
  26. An endorsement deal.
  27. Bob Costas’ tie.
  28. Michael Strahan’s tie.
  29. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s tie.
  30. Jim Nantz’s financial advisor’s tie.
  31. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s financial advisor’s tie.
  32. A shoutout from Buffalo Wild Wings on Twitter.
  33. A shoutout from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on Twitter.
  34. Pants.
  35. A paycheck.
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