Fueled by beer ads, March Madness tournaments will expand to 76 teams each starting next season

Key Points:

• The NCAA will expand both men's and women's basketball tournaments to 76 teams starting next season, adding eight more games and increasing the First Four play-in round to the March Madness Opening Round with 12 teams competing for spots in the main 64-team bracket.
• This expansion is financially supported by new sponsorship deals allowing alcohol advertising, including beer, wine, spirits, and hard seltzer, generating around $300 million in additional funding that will be shared with participating schools.
• The number of at-large bids will increase from 37 to 44, primarily benefiting power conference teams, a move criticized by some as favoring major conferences and diminishing opportunities for mid-major schools.
• Despite concerns about competitive balance, NCAA officials and conference leaders believe the expansion will be positive overall and help maintain the tournament's appeal while preventing potential fractures within college basketball governance.
• The new format and sponsorship arrangements will remain in place through the current $8.8 billion TV deal running until 2032, with the NCAA signaling this is the maximum tournament size for the foreseeable future.