Both men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments could see significant growth within the next few years, with news reports suggesting the field size may increase from the current 68 teams to 76 teams beginning in 2027, although the NCAA has pushed back on claims that anything is set in stone.
After several major sports news organizations reported Tuesday that expansion plans were moving toward approval by NCAA committees and could become official by May, the NCAA released a statement disputing that characterization.
“Expanding the basketball tournaments would require approval from multiple NCAA committees, including the men’s and women’s basketball committees, and no final recommendations or decisions have been made at this time,” the organization’s statement said.
According to CBS Sports, the proposed format would place 52 teams directly into the main tournament bracket, while the remaining 24 teams would compete in 12 preliminary games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday following Selection Sunday. The winners of those matchups would advance to complete the Round of 64. The current “First Four” designation would be replaced, with the preliminary contests becoming the “opening round” and the traditional Round of 64 renamed the “first round.”
ESPN reports that the NCAA is still working through contract discussions with its broadcasting partners, which must be completed before the proposal can go to various committees for votes, including the men’s and women’s basketball committees, oversight committees, the Division I Cabinet, and the Division I Board of Governors.
This would represent the tournament’s first growth since 2011, when the field expanded from 65 to 68 teams through the creation of the First Four games. Prior to that change, the tournament had maintained either 64 or 65 teams since 1985.
Yahoo Sports previously reported that the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference have been the primary advocates pushing for tournament expansion. NCAA president Charlie Baker has also expressed his backing for the idea.
“I said all along that I think there are some very good reasons to expand the tournament,” Baker told ESPN in February. “So, I would like to see it expand.”
