As the 2025-26 season approaches, the discussion around expanding the NCAA Tournament has once again taken center stage. The men’s basketball tournament has featured 68 teams since 2011, but change could be coming soon.
The NCAA Tournament began in 1939 with just eight teams. It doubled in size in 1951, doubled again in 1975, and expanded once more in 1985 to reach 64 teams. In 2001, the NCAA added a play-in game, creating a 65-team field, and by 2011 the “First Four” format brought the number to 68.
Now, according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports and On3Sports, NCAA executives are closing in on an agreement to expand the tournament to 76 teams starting with the 2026-27 season. The proposal includes a 12-game opening round played at two neutral sites.
What Does it Mean?
On the surface, expansion means more teams in March Madness, more games for fans, and more television revenue. However, critics argue that adding 12 more teams will dilute the quality of the tournament. Programs with questionable resumes may now get in, reducing the exclusivity and competitiveness of what has long been considered the most exciting postseason in sports.
For mid-major programs, expansion could present both opportunity and risk. More spots should, in theory, allow stronger mid-majors to break through. But without proper safeguards, power-conference teams on the bubble may continue to squeeze out smaller schools, leaving conferences like the Missouri Valley or the Mountain West still fighting for recognition.
Been in the Works
This change has clearly been in the pipeline for some time. Administrators and television executives have pushed for it, and while the plan has not yet been finalized, Dellenger reports that a broad consensus is forming. An official announcement could come soon, signaling the first major adjustment to the field in more than a decade.
At the heart of the matter is money. Expanding the tournament creates more broadcast inventory, boosts fan engagement, and increases revenue for schools and conferences. But while more basketball is always welcome, tinkering with the tournament’s format risks altering what makes March Madness so special.
For many in the college basketball world, the hope is that the magic of the event won’t be lost in the pursuit of profit. The overwhelming guess is that it will. Expanding the tournament adds more games, but in the end, it's not just a bad idea, it's the worst idea yet.