After Roundball Rock deal expired, Fox Sports introduces new college basketball theme in Rome
A familiar theme ends its run
Fox Sports licensed Roundball Rock in 2018 and used it to introduce college basketball games across the Big East, Big Ten and Big 12. The song had also been associated with NBC’s NBA broadcasts.
When NBC returned to NBA coverage, Fox allowed the network to license the music again. Fox continued using it for college basketball, but the licensing deal ended in November 2026.
Fox debuts replacement music
With the deal over, Fox needed a new theme for its college basketball coverage. The replacement first aired over the weekend during a Notre Dame-Villanova doubleheader at the Eternal City Tip-Off in Rome, Italy.
Fox retained its graphics package and score bug. The new music sounds similar to Roundball Rock, prompting questions about whether it might be another John Tesh composition.
Tesh representative rules out song
Awful Announcing contacted a representative for Tesh, who said the new tune was not his. The report therefore described the music as sounding like a Tesh imitation. Roundball Rock is now back exclusively with NBC, according to the report, after Fox’s college basketball rights to the song expired.
Key points
- Fox Sports debuted a new college basketball theme after its Roundball Rock deal ended in November 2026.
- Fox had used the John Tesh song since 2018 for Big East, Big Ten and Big 12 games.
- The replacement debuted during a Notre Dame-Villanova doubleheader in Rome, Italy.
- A representative for Tesh said the new tune was not his.