The leader after Round 1 of the 2019 TVNewser March Madness Bracket Challenge may not be widely known to national television news world just yet. But to sports fans, her name most certainly rings a bell.
Fox Nation host Abby Hornacek, who was signed by Fox News in January to host a travel and lifestyle program on its streaming service, was 29 for 32 in Round 1 of this year’s challenge. She was correct on all of her 9-8 seed and 10-7 seed game predictions, and also chose No. 13 UC-Irvine to upset No. 4 Kansas State.
However, they may be trouble ahead. Hornacek has her dad’s alma mater Iowa State in the Elite 8. Unfortunately for her, ISU lost to Ohio State in the opening round. She also had Wisconsin in the Sweet 16, but they lost the 5-12 game to Oregon.
Hornacek brings a lot of sports media experience to the TV news world. Before arriving at Fox, she served as a contributor to ESPN and a sideline reporter for Fox Sports. She also hosted San Diego Prep Insider on Fox Sports San Diego.
And yes, basketball is in her blood. Hornacek is the daughter of former NBA All Star guard for the Utah Jazz (and one-time coach of the Phoenix Suns and the NY Knicks) Jeff Hornacek.
NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent and host of MSNBC’s Kasie DC Kasie Hunt is right on Hornacek’s heels, sitting in second place after going 26 for 32 in the opening round.
There is a logjam in third place, with seven participants going 25 for 32 in the opening round. Among those in third include Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, NBC News White House correspondent and Saturday Today co-host Peter Alexander, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, Fox News sports reporter Jared Max, NBC News Today news anchor and MSNBC Live anchor Craig Melvin, CNBC Squawk on the Street ep Todd Bonin, and TVNewser editor A.J. Katz.
Following that group are a whopping 14 participants who have 24 points after Round 1.
Needless to say, this challenge is WIDE open going into the Round of 32 games, which begin at 12:10 p.m. ET today on CBS with Maryland vs. LSU, and continue through Sunday evening.