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NCAA Basketball Tournaments To Remain At 68 Teams For 2026, As Future Expansion Talks Continue

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Basketball

(BCSNN) — The NCAA announced Monday that the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will remain at 68 teams for the 2026 season, shelving expansion proposals that had gained momentum in recent months. The decision was confirmed by NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, who said the committees “will continue conversations” about expanding to 72 or 76 teams in future years.

The move comes after months of speculation and internal debate, with coaches, conference commissioners, and media partners weighing in on the potential benefits and drawbacks of a larger field. NCAA President Charlie Baker previously acknowledged that expansion could offer more access to deserving teams and increase television revenue, but logistical challenges and concerns about diluting the tournament’s competitive integrity ultimately stalled the proposal.

Gavitt said the decision to hold off on expansion was based on timing and practicality. “Expanding the tournament fields is no longer being contemplated for the 2026 men’s and women’s basketball championships,” he said. “However, the committees will continue conversations on whether to recommend expanding to 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2027 championships”.

The NCAA Tournament has been at 68 teams since 2011 for men and since 2022 for women, following the introduction of the First Four play-in games. Critics of expansion argue that adding more teams could weaken the quality of the field and complicate scheduling, while supporters believe it would provide more opportunities for mid-major programs and bubble teams left out under the current format.

Media partners CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery, whose broadcast deal runs through 2032 and is worth approximately $1.1 billion annually, have reportedly expressed interest in additional games to boost viewership and advertising revenue. However, no formal changes to the tournament structure have been approved beyond 2026.

For now, fans of March Madness can expect the same format that has produced iconic upsets and Cinderella runs for over a decade. While expansion remains a possibility for 2027 and beyond, the NCAA’s most popular event will retain its current structure for at least one more season.