ESPN's Anish Shroff calls out NCAA bracket leak on lacrosse selection show
Awful Announcing • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2026 NCAA men’s and women’s lacrosse tournament brackets were leaked early on the NCAA official website before the scheduled selection shows aired on ESPNU Sunday night.
- The women’s selection show aired at 9 p.m. ET, followed by the men’s at 9:30 p.m., but the brackets had already been posted around 8:15 p.m. ET, spoiling the suspense for many fans.
- ESPNU host Anish Shroff acknowledged the early leak during the men’s selection show, humorously referencing the NCAA intern responsible and the impact on the viewing experience.
- The early release of brackets is unusual compared to other major college sports and has drawn criticism for undermining the excitement and spotlight of lacrosse, especially given the sport’s already limited exposure on major networks.
- Fans, teams, and ESPN expressed frustration over the NCAA’s premature bracket release, which diminished the traditional selection show anticipation and disrupted planned watch parties.
