Technical Meltdown Throws CBS’ March Madness Coverage Into Chaos During Wisconsin-BYU Game

[Image: CBS scorebug glitching during the game]
CBS’ March Madness Broadcast Disrupted by Technical Chaos

CBS faced an embarrassing technical meltdown during Saturday’s NCAA Tournament clash between BYU and Wisconsin, with its score graphic malfunctioning repeatedly in the first half. The glitch drew widespread mockery from fans as the network scrambled to fix the issue mid-game.

The trouble began when Wisconsin’s John Blackwell sunk a three-pointer, cutting BYU’s lead to 38-27. Moments later, the on-screen score bug erroneously skyrocketed Wisconsin’s points to random totals, even displaying an absurd 228 points briefly. CBS removed the graphic for over a minute before restoring it, only for the problem to recur after another three-pointer by Wisconsin’s John Tonje. The network repeatedly pulled the scorebug offline, leaving viewers without updates for stretches of the tense matchup.

[Image: Fans reacting on social media]
Fans quickly roasted the mishap online. “Five straight points for the Badgers? Looked like a lot more than five,” one user joked on X. Others humorously accused CBS of rigging the game or blamed a spilled drink in the control room.

Despite the chaos, BYU held off a late surge from Wisconsin to clinch a 91-89 victory, advancing to its first Sweet 16 since 2011. The Cougars led wire-to-wire but faced a nail-biting finish as Tonje exploded for a tournament-high 37 points. His final three-point attempt to tie the game rimmed out, sealing Wisconsin’s fate as the first Big Ten team to lose in this year’s tournament after a 10-0 start for the conference.

[Image: BYU celebrating their win]
Key Takeaways:

• The scorebug glitched after consecutive three-pointers, displaying impossible totals.
• CBS temporarily removed the graphic multiple times before resolving the issue.
• BYU’s victory marks a historic return to the tournament’s second weekend after a 13-year drought.
• Wisconsin’s John Tonje delivered a standout performance in the losing effort.

The incident highlighted the unpredictable nature of live sports broadcasting, though CBS managed to stabilize coverage for the game’s climax. BYU now prepares for a Sweet 16 showdown, while Wisconsin’s tournament run ends in dramatic fashion.

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