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The Michigan men’s basketball team won its first national title in more than 30 years this month. A day earlier, the UCLA women’s team won its first NCAA tournament crown.
Michigan and UCLA relied on a field of 64 teams to hoist their respective championship trophies, but an expanded field could make repeat runs more difficult next season. ESPN reported Tuesday, citing sources, that the NCAA was moving forward with plans to expand both tournaments to 76 teams.
The expansion has been on the table for more than a year, but this latest step could pave the way for formal approval, with an announcement possible as early as next month. The larger field could be in place before the 2026-27 season.
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The Sweet 16/Elite Eight March Madness logo is displayed on the floor before the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Elite Eight game between Texas Tech and Florida at Chase Center in San Francisco, California on March 29, 2025. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Although several hurdles remain for NCAA committees before any changes can become official, a source told ESPN that the remaining steps are just “formalities.”
Media rights deals remain unfinished and signed contracts will likely be needed before men’s and women’s basketball committees, watchdog groups and other parties move forward. ESPN reported that NCAA officials recently engaged in discussions with key media partners.
THE NCAA TOURNAMENT IS GOING TO BIGGER, UNFORTUNATELY. EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED, MORE TEAMS
Although the financial framework for the expansion is not yet clear, costs are expected to increase as more teams travel and compete. A source told ESPN that the plan could ultimately generate profits and a “modest financial benefit.”
A game ball bearing the March Madness logo is displayed during the first round of the 2025 NCAA women’s basketball tournament at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, March 22, 2025. (Photos Beau Brune/NCAA)
Discussions about expansion appear to be fueled more by pressure for at-large bids for power conferences than by financial considerations. Many leagues have added a considerable number of schools under the current deal.
“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,” an NCAA spokesperson told OutKick’s Trey Wallace.
Currently, the First Four consists of eight teams spread over four matches. Expanding, that number would increase to 12 games involving 24 teams, with the men’s tournament adding eight at-large bids.
NCAA basketball crosses the nets during the SEC women’s college basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina on March 8, 2025. (John Byrum/Icon Sportswire)
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Overall, the proposal would mean the top four would see 24 of those 76 teams compete on Tuesday and Wednesday. Eight teams that would have once been in the regular bracket would now face eight new at-large teams. The main group of 64 teams would still start on Thursday with little change.
