NCAA in final steps to expand March Madness to 76 teams, expected to begin in 2027

Key Points:

• The NCAA is nearing a decision to expand both men's and women's basketball postseason tournaments from 68 to 76 teams, with the change expected to start in the 2026-27 season.
• The expansion involves adding eight teams to the existing "First Four" play-in round, rebranded as the "Opening Round," featuring 24 teams playing 12 games over two days before the traditional first round.
• NCAA officials have reportedly reached agreements with media partners on updated contracts, pending formal signing required to finalize the expansion.
• The expanded tournament will include a mix of at-large and automatic bids, with seeds ranging from 12 to possibly 13 participating in the new opening round.
• While the expansion is anticipated to generate modest financial gains to cover added logistics, it is not expected to be a major windfall, and some fans express concern about potential dilution of the tournament's competitive quality.