College basketball’s biggest tournament is poised for significant growth, with NCAA officials planning to approve an expansion to 76 teams for both men’s and women’s competitions following this year’s championship games, according to a Friday report from Yahoo Sports.
The proposed structure would allow 52 teams to advance straight to the current opening round, while 24 additional teams would compete in preliminary matchups. These early contests would feature the 12 lowest-seeded conference champions alongside the final 12 at-large selections, playing a dozen games across Tuesday and Wednesday to earn spots in the traditional first round scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Dayton, Ohio, which has hosted the First Four games for years, would continue serving as one venue for these preliminary rounds, with organizers planning to add a second location to accommodate the increased number of early games.
Officials caution that specific arrangements remain fluid as the NCAA maintains ongoing discussions with television broadcast partners CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery, who hold exclusive rights to air the men’s tournament through 2031.
While the timeline for implementation wasn’t specified in the report, the expansion could potentially debut as early as the 2027 tournaments. Sources indicate the changes “will happen” unless unexpected complications arise in coming days.
This would represent the tournament’s first growth since 2011, when organizers increased participation from 65 to 68 teams by introducing the First Four format. Prior to that adjustment, the field had remained at 64 or 65 teams since 1985.
The Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference have emerged as the primary advocates pushing for tournament expansion, according to the report. NCAA President Charlie Baker has also publicly expressed support for enlarging the field.
