The NCAA announced this week that its men's and women's March Madness basketball tournaments will expand to 76 teams starting next season, increasing the field from the current 68-team format that has been in place since 2011. The move adds eight additional teams to each bracket and will require adjustments to the tournament's opening rounds.

The expansion is expected to give more mid-major and smaller conference programs a path to the national tournament, broadening access to one of college sports' most prominent events. Under the new format, additional first-round games will be needed to reduce the field before the traditional 64-team bracket stage.

NCAA officials have described the expansion as part of a broader effort to grow college basketball's reach and provide more programs with postseason opportunities. The change comes as college athletics continues to navigate significant structural shifts, including the effects of name, image, and likeness rules and ongoing conference realignment.

Details about scheduling, venue selection for the additional games, and television broadcast arrangements are still being finalized. The new format is set to take effect with the 2026-27 season's postseason tournament.