The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is reportedly under consideration for expansion from its current 68-team format to a 76-team field, potentially beginning as early as 2027.
Under the proposed change, the number of play-in or “opening round” games would increase from the four that currently compose the “First Four” to as many as twelve. These additional preliminary matchups would take place soon after conference tournaments conclude.
The new structure would likely pit the lowest ranked automatic qualifying teams (i.e. conference champions with lower seeds) against the lowest ranked at-large teams in these opening round games. Winners of those games would progress into the standard 64-team bracket.
This is not the first time the tournament has been expanded. The field moved from 64 to 65 teams in 2001, and later to 68 teams in 2011, when the “First Four” format was adopted.
However, while expansion is under discussion, there is no guarantee that changes will happen immediately. NCAA officials have indicated that the 2026 tournament will remain at 68 teams, with expansion only under serious consideration for 2027 or later.
Some of the major challenges in executing such an expansion include logistics, travel costs, scheduling, and ensuring the competitive integrity of the event. There are also concerns about diluting the prestige and excitement of early round matchups if weaker teams are added.
Support for expansion is not uniform. Some coaches and athletic conferences are in favor, seeing it as a way to include more deserving teams, while critics argue it could reduce the drama of the tournament or overextend resources.
At present, the NCAA continues to evaluate the feasibility of expansion. Key stakeholders—including media partners, conference officials, coaches, and university administrators—are engaged in discussions. Any final decision will have to balance competitive fairness, financial impact, logistical execution, and stakeholder sentiment.
