The NCAA is poised to expand the men’s March Madness tournament from its current 68-team format to either 72 or 76 teams, with potential implementation as early as the 2026 season. NCAA President Charlie Baker confirmed that discussions are ongoing with media partners CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery, aiming to finalize a decision by early summer 2025 to accommodate necessary planning.
The primary motivation behind the proposed expansion is to include other deserving teams that have missed out due to the limited number of at-large bids. With 31 automatic qualifiers occupying spots in the 68-team field, several high-performing teams are often excluded. Baker cited Indiana State’s omission from the 2024 tournament, despite a strong season, as a notable example.
Opponents contend that a 72- or 76-team expansion would disproportionately benefit lower-ranked programs from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, and Big East.
The expansion has garnered support and considerations from various stakeholders:
- Coaches: Kansas head coach Bill Self indicated that Big 12 coaches are in favor of the expansion, believing it would provide more opportunities for competitive teams
- Media Partners: While discussions with CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery are positive, some media executives have expressed concerns about the value of additional early-round games, suggesting they may not attract significant viewership or revenue.
- Logistics: Expanding the tournament would require adjustments, such as potentially adding more “First Four” games and possibly introducing new host cities beyond Dayton, Ohio, and Des Moines, Iowa, to accommodate the increased number of games.
If the tournament expands to 72 or 76 teams, the additional teams would likely participate in expanded play-in games, similar to the current “First Four” format. This would maintain the traditional 64-team bracket structure while allowing more teams to compete for a spot in the main tournament.
A decision regarding the expansion is expected within the next few months. If approved, the changes would take effect for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, marking the first expansion since the field increased from 65 to 68 teams in 2011.