There’s a lot more to sports than just the game. The build-up of anticipation of days, weeks, or months makes it all so rewarding. But the first tipoff, face-off, or coin toss isn’t the start of the show. The viewing experience begins with a melody, a soundtrack that gets you ready for the game ahead and sets the tone for the next few hours. Without that little part of the experience, sports just aren’t the same.
HM: MLB on FOX
Although this tune just missed out on the top five, there is no need to explain its popularity among baseball fans. The piece gives off postseason vibes. One can easily picture a chilly October night game, stadium lights shining, with a rocking sold-out crowd as Joe Davis leads you, the viewer, into the game at hand. This theme remains very underrated and needs more appreciation among sports fans; it certainly deserves the honorable mention.
The Masters is the top-of-the-line of PGA Tournaments, and when this weekend comes around once a year, “Thrill of Victory” plays in the heads of golf connoisseurs. Hearing this song brings about the feeling of spring, warm weather, and the beautiful scenery blooming. While it’s not particularly a thrilling one (no pun intended), all sports fans recognize and respect this iconic song.
This theme song is the staple of college football. Unfortunately, it does not rank as highly as it once did after CBS sold out to the Big Ten. This was the face of the SEC on CBS, but now simply doesn’t feel the same. Instead of leading the viewer into a rowdy Jordan-Hare or Neyland Stadium, it introduces us to a half-empty SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland. It certainly deserves a mention on the list since its legacy and impact won’t be forgotten. However, shame on you, CBS.
3: NFL on FOX
It is a crisp fall day, maybe a slight overcast. The brown and red foliage is blowing in the wind. You just turned on FOX to watch your favorite team and this song led you to a live look at the stadium. When it comes to these themes, they are capable of conjuring up feelings and images, and NFL on FOX certainly checks that box. While the other NFL broadcast themes are great, this one takes the cake. It’s nothing too over the top or flashy, but that’s the beauty of it.
2: Roundball Rock by John Tesh
“Roundball Rock” is the sports song, but a bit of an oddity compared to the other tracks on this list. It served as the official NBA on NBC theme from 1990-2002, and as the NBA makes its return to the network in the 2025-26 season, so will the composition. In 2018, FOX Sports acquired the rights to the song to use for their college basketball production. If this was a fantasy lineup, “Roundball Rock” would be in the FLEX position. This song has a little bit of everything, even some cowbell, and it will never fail to hype you up.
1: March Madness/College Basketball on CBS
This one needs no introduction. This symphony never fails to put a smile on the faces of all fans. Hearing this at the top of the Selection Show gets the blood coursing through the veins of all teams waiting to hear their name called, and there is simply no better feeling as nerve-racking or exciting as it might be. One Shining Moment would be No. 1 on a Sports Anthems list, but the March Madness theme is No. 1 on the Sports Theme Songs list, thus proving the greatness of college hoops.
