(BCSNN) — NCAA President Charlie Baker confirmed this week that discussions are underway to expand the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, with proposals to increase the field to either 72 or 76 teams.

The tournament, which has featured 68 teams since 2011, could see its largest expansion since moving to a 64-team format in 1985. Baker cited concerns that deserving teams are often left out due to automatic qualifiers taking up spots, noting that a larger field would provide more opportunities for high-performing programs that narrowly miss selection. “The point behind going from 68 to 72 or 76 is to give some of those schools that were among the best teams in the country a way into the tournament,” Baker said.

The expansion proposal has drawn mixed reactions from coaches and administrators. Big 12 coaches, including Kansas’ Bill Self, have expressed support for the idea, arguing that more teams deserve a chance to compete in March Madness. “There’s a consensus among Big 12 coaches that expanding the tournament would be beneficial,” Self said during the meetings. However, some critics worry that increasing the field could dilute the competition and extend the tournament schedule, potentially impacting player fatigue and travel logistics.

CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery, the tournament’s media rights holders, have been involved in discussions about the expansion. While executives from both networks have expressed openness to the idea, they have also cautioned against making changes that could negatively impact the tournament’s appeal. “If it’s something that makes sense for the fans and the tournament, we’ll be supportive,” said Luis Silberwasser, CEO of TNT Sports, when the idea was floated around in March.

Financial considerations will play a significant role in determining whether the expansion moves forward. The NCAA’s current media deal with CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery runs through 2032.

"We've had good conversations with CBS and WBD," Baker said, referring to Warner Bros. Discovery, whose holdings include the Turner networks that air NCAA tournament games. "Our goal here is to try to sort of get to either yes or no sometime in the next few months because there's a lot of logistical work that would be associated with doing this. If we were to go down this road, you just think about the opening weekends, who has to travel the longest, it gets complicated."

As discussions continue, the NCAA faces a balancing act between maintaining the tournament’s competitive integrity and expanding opportunities for more teams. And with more post-season tournaments popping up, like FOX's College Basketball Crown (CBC) Tournament, the NCAA and its TV partners know the appetite and money are there for more games. The only question is when we will get them.