NCAA decides to maintain March Madness tournament with 68 teams in 2026, discussions on expansion to be tabled for later time
March Madness Tournaments to Maintain 68-Team Format for 2025-26 Season
The NCAA's popular March Madness basketball tournaments will continue with their current 68-team format for the 2025-26 season, both for the men's and women's tournaments. This decision was announced by NCAA senior vice president Dan Gavitt on Monday, August 4, 2025.
While discussions about potential expansion to 72 or 76 teams for future seasons are ongoing, no changes will be made for the 2026 championships. The Division I basketball committees are weighing the options, but a jump to a larger field presents logistical and financial challenges.
Expanding the tournament to 76 teams would require significantly more opening-round games (12 vs. the current 4), creating complexity in scheduling and organisation. This is one of the reasons why the 72-team option is considered less likely.
The last expansion occurred in 2011, when the field grew to 68 with the addition of the First Four games. Since then, there has been increased talk about tournament expansion, with many coaches and conference commissioners favouring a larger field.
However, the current 68-team format remains popular and has been favoured by coaches and conference commissioners as well. The NCAA's most popular event will maintain its current format for at least one more year.
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The discussions about expanding the tournament to 72 or 76 teams for the 2027 championships are ongoing. The committees will continue to weigh the pros and cons of each option, with the aim of making a decision before the 2027 championships.
This decision to maintain the 68-team format for 2026 was made following increased talks about tournament expansion since April's Final Four. The committees will continue to consider the potential benefits and challenges of expanding the tournament in the future, with the aim of providing the best possible experience for players and fans.
The NCAA's March Madness basketball tournaments, both for men and women, will maintain their current 68-team format for the 2025-26 season, as announced by NCAA senior vice president Dan Gavitt on August 4, 2025. For those who follow sports, particularly basketball, this means another exciting tournament awaits in the upcoming season, with teams battling it out for the championship.
