Home
Sports
NCAA on track to expand to a 76-team March Ma....
NCAA on track to expand to a 76-team March Madness bracket for next season
A decision on adding eight teams to the bracket could come as early as May.
By The Associated Press
The Associated Press
June 2, 2025
5 mins read
The NCAA is still deliberating expanding March Madness on both the men's and women's sides to 76 teams for next season — a much-expected development that's been in the works for years.
The NCAA released a brief statement Tuesday in the wake of an ESPN report that cited unnamed sources saying a decision to add eight teams to the bracket is a mere formality that's expected in May.
"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 statement said.
Earlier this month at the Final Four, NCAA President Charlie Baker said the committees would, in fact, return to discussing the expansion once this year's tournament was over.
The tournaments have been at 68 teams since 2011, when four play-in games were added to the beginning of the first week of play. The new format would add eight more at-large teams and take eight more teams out of the main bracket for play-in games.
The expansion isn't expected to generate a lot more income because it will only add games early in the first week. The current TV deal runs through 2032 and could be tweaked slightly.
Regardless of finances, the expansion would give power conferences more chances to place teams in the bracket — a growing concern as those conferences seek more power and control over college sports in the era of name, image and likeness compensation and the transfer portal.
U.S. NEWS
Senate Passes Sweeping Economic Reform Bill in Historic Bipartisan Vote
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle united Thursday to pass the most significant ....
By Margaret Chen
5 mins read
Most read
5
Daily Briefing
Top headlines delivered every morning.
You have subscribed successfully!
Stay Updated with Anchorage News
Receive breaking news, daily briefings, and special reports — delivered to your inbox.
You have subscribed successfully!
