NCAA unanimously votes to increase the NCAA tournament to 76 teams

The NCAA announced on Thursday that its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will expand to 76 teams beginning this season, a decision made unanimously by the selection committee. The change increases the number of teams advancing to the First Four play-in round from eight to 24, with 12 games determining the final spots before the first round starts on Thursday. The expansion follows previous increases, including the 2011 move from 64 to 68 teams in the men’s tournament and the 2022 expansion of the women’s tournament from 48 to 64 teams. The new format will feature an expanded First Four, now consisting of 24 teams competing in 12 games over Tuesday and Wednesday before the first round begins. While the exact locations for these games have not yet been confirmed, the NCAA expects them to take place prior to the traditional tournament start. The rest of the tournament structure, including the 64-team first round and subsequent rounds, remains unchanged. NCAA President Charlie Baker stated the expansion had been anticipated since last month, reflecting ongoing efforts to broaden participation in the tournament. The changes come as teams like UCLA, which recently won a national title in women’s basketball and saw its men’s team advance to the Round of 32, may now face fewer obstacles to securing a spot. The Bruins’ men’s team, seeded seventh last year, and the women’s team, which set a program-record in wins, stand to benefit from the increased opportunities. The NCAA tournament has previously expanded twice: from 53 to 64 teams in 1985 and from 64 to 68 teams in 2011 for the men’s division, while the women’s tournament grew from 48 to 64 teams in 1994 and later to 68 teams in 2022. This latest adjustment marks the most significant expansion in recent history, aiming to provide more teams with a chance to compete in March Madness.