NCAA makes March Madness expansion decision for 2026

New York Post

9 hours ago

March Madness won't be expanding — not yet, at least.
The NCAA announced Monday that it will not look to expand the current NCAA Tournament fields from 68 teams for the 2026 championships, but discussions will continue about potential expansion beyond next year.
'Expanding the tournament fields is no longer being contemplated for the 2026 men's and women's basketball championships,' Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's senior vice president of basketball, said in a statement. 'However, the committees will continue conversations on whether to recommend expanding to 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2027 championships.'
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4 General view of the court before the Final Four Game of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Alamodome on April 05, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
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NCAA president Charlie Baker had previously said that his goal was to expand the tournament by 2026, but this solidifies that the NCAA will fall short of that goal.
March Madness began in 1939 with an eight-team field, doubling to 16 teams in 1951.
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The tournament expanded to 22 teams in 1953 and then grew again to 32 teams in 1975 before eventually moving on to 64 teams in 1985.
4 A general view of the court during the first half of the game between the Omaha Mavericks and the St. John's Red Storm in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Amica Mutual Pavillion on March 20, 2025.
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The 'First Four' grew the field to 68 teams in 2011, although that's technically a play-in tournament to get into the 64-team bracket.
The women's tournament did not expand to 68 teams until 2022.
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4 The NCAA March Madness Tournament has been heralded as the best sporting event.
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4 Lauren Betts #51 of the UCLA Bruins looks for an open shot against the UConn Huskies during the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The NCAA has viewed expansion as a positive despite some outcry from sports fans who think the tournament would be watered down.
'It has been brought up before, but there was never the kind of consensus interest as there is now,' Gavitt told The Post in February. 'Doesn't mean it is going to happen, but there's a lot more interest than there's even been in the last decade.'