Like it or not, March Madness is expanding to 76 teams, starting next season

The NCAA’s men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will expand to 76 teams beginning with the 2026-27 season, after a unanimous vote by selection committees on May 7. This marks the first major expansion of the men’s tournament since 1985, when it grew from 53 to 64 teams, and follows a similar increase for women’s basketball in 2022. The decision was praised by NCAA board chair Tim Sands, who called it the right move for student-athletes and programs, while also promising more competitive games for fans. The new format replaces the current First Four—eight teams playing four games—with a March Madness Opening Round featuring 24 teams across 12 games. Three games will remain in Dayton, Ohio, while six will be held in an undisclosed second city. The women’s tournament will shift to Wednesday and Thursday, with games played on campuses of top 16 seeds. The first round of 64 and subsequent rounds will stay unchanged. Critics argue the expansion risks weakening the bracket by including power conference teams with subpar records, such as 17-16 Auburn and 18-14 Indiana, while excluding some mid-major champions. Under the new system, the 12 lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers (four 15-seeds and eight 16-seeds) will compete in the Opening Round, alongside the 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams. The selection committee will avoid geographic conflicts and same-conference matchups where possible. The NCAA estimates the expansion will generate over $131 million in new revenue distributions to participating schools over the next six years. The move follows years of discussion, with NCAA president Charlie Baker advocating for growth. Final approval from the Division I Cabinet and Board of Governors is still pending, but the expansion is expected to proceed as planned.