Three West Virginia University students have been selected to compete in a new quiz show on ESPN2, Bracket Genius, airing Wednesday, March 22 at 5 p.m.
Hosted by popular ESPN personality and six-time Emmy award winner Trey Wingo, the quiz show will pit university academic teams, consisting of three undergraduate students, against one another in a bracket-style competition for the chance to have their team crowned the inaugural Bracket Genius Champion and share the prize of $100,000.
Representing WVU on the show will be Carly Della Salla, a graduate student in integrated marketing and communications from Macungie, Pa., Tanner Filben, a senior engineering and mineral resources major from Glen Dale, W.Va. and Reghan Bailey, a senior journalism major from Fairmont, W.Va.
The final 16 universities represented on the hardwood will match up in the same head-to-head games on Bracket Genius where the winner advances by answering questions spanning history, geography, politics, literature, science, pop culture, the arts and sports in a race to score as many points as possible against the clock and their opponent.
“Every March, college basketball fans are entertained by the athletic genius displayed by their favorite players on the game’s biggest stage,” said Intersport’s Executive Producer John Paquet. “The Bracket Genius platform captures that excitement and provides fans yet another reason to cheer for their favorite college or university while celebrating academics and championing the everyday college student.”
The eight-episode Bracket Genius series debuted Wednesday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 with a half-hour “Study Guide” episode showcasing the playing format along with original behind-the-scenes footage from potential Bracket Genius teams and ESPN personalities.
The opening round matchups are scheduled to air Wednesday, March 22 and Sunday, March 26 at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET. Each half-hour episode will feature four teams vying for the chance to advance to the Bracket Genius Championship episode.
Bonus round episodes will air Monday, March 27 at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET. These half-hour episodes, Bracket Genius: Extra Credit, will give the four Championship contenders a chance to win extra cash prizes of up to $25,000 per episode.
The remaining four teams will face off in the Bracket Genius Championship episode scheduled to air on Tuesday, April 4 at 7 p.m. The one-hour finale will feature two semifinal matchups, with winners advancing to the final head-to-head battle to determine the Bracket Genius Champion and $100,000 winning team.
