Report: NCAA Tournament considering expansion agreement

Field Level Media|published: Thu 2nd October, 13:17 2025

Mar 30, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; NCAA logo at center court during the Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

Madness is not only reserved for March when it comes to college basketball.

Continued reports suggest the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is set to eventually expand, with the latest coming from On3 on Thursday that said the NCAA is considering a 76-team field that could arrive by 2027.

The current 68-team field includes four play-in games each year in Dayton, Ohio, and is referred to as the First Four. The winners of those games proceed on to the traditional 64-team bracket.

Under the reported new format, the play-in portion of the tournament could include as many as 12 games held early in the week after the conference tournaments are completed the prior weekend.

The matchups for the 12 play-in games would be the lowest ranked conference champions against the 12 lowest ranked at-large teams.

The NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams 1985 with a 65th team added in 2001. The current 68-team field came on board in 2011.

--Field Level Media