March Madness will transform into a Ted Russo crossover event. Jason Sudeikis, the actor best known for playing the most beloved football coach on television, has made multiple appearances in the final rounds of the 2024 NCAA women's basketball tournament. He has always supported the Iowa Hawkeyes with a passion that would make Ted and AFC Richmond proud.
(Wo) Manchester City
The women's tournament attracted record crowds, and celebrities like Sudeikis couldn't resist the fun. He was on hand to support Iowa State on April 1 when it faced the LSU Tigers in the Elite Eight in Albany, New York. It was a repeat of last year's championship game, and this time, Iowa State prevailed. Sudeikis not only cheered the Hawkeyes on throughout the game, but also joined in their on-field celebrations after the final buzzer.
Four days later, Sudeikis was playing in the Final Four again. On April 5, he traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to watch Iowa State play the UConn Huskies. His team of choice once again earned a spot in the finals; they beat UConn 71-69, with star Caitlin Clark finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Midway through the game, Sudeikis was on TV praising Clark. Speaking on The Bird & Taurasi Show , hosted by former and current WNBA players Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, he said: “If people drove like Caitlin Clark plays basketball, there would be no traffic jams.”
Join the hype
Clark and the Hawkeyes are having a busy season, so Sudeikis didn't wait until March Madness to watch one of their games. He sat courtside with Bird on Dec. 2 when Iowa played the Bowling Green Falcons in Iowa City. Later, in Cleveland, he told her and Taurasi it was his first time watching a women's Final Four game.
"And, and millions of other people, you know? But in a flashy way," he added, alluding to the popularity of college women's basketball in recent years.
Sudeikis, who generally enjoys sports, noted to Bird and Taurasi that he is "a guy who likes to see other people do things well." Unfortunately, his work schedule doesn't lend itself to keeping up with the team on a regular basis like a true die-hard would. "Honestly, I think I'm going to be a fair-weather sports fan just because of work... and just because the schedule is hectic and, you know, inconsistent," he told The Rush in December 2021.
BasketballX Ted Russo
The sight of Sudeikis in the Final Four — whether in the stands, on television, or in Cleveland hot spots like The 9 Hotel at The Metropolitan — inspired some fans to imagine Ted Russo's Possibility of spin-off or reboot. "How about Ted Russo as women's basketball coach? I'll watch," one person tweeted. Meanwhile, another joked that he was "looking at [Iowa State guard] Kate Martin like he's collecting content for a new women's basketball hit comedy series."
Look for Sudeikis in the women's national championship game live on ABC on April 7 at 3 pm ET.
