NCAA Will Not Expand Men’s or Women’s Basketball Tournaments in 2026, But Discussions Continue
August 5, 2025 – Indianapolis, IN
College basketball fans can breathe a temporary sigh of relief — the size of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will remain at 68 teams for the 2025–26 season. Despite increasing speculation and reports suggesting a possible expansion to the Big Dance, NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt confirmed Monday that there will be no immediate changes to the tournament format.
The decision preserves the current structure that has defined “March Madness” for over a decade and comes amid growing debate within the college sports landscape about equity, access, and the evolving size of NCAA Division I programs. Though the tournament field remains unchanged for now, Gavitt emphasized that conversations about potential future expansion are very much alive.
“There will be no expansion of the NCAA men’s or women’s basketball tournaments for the upcoming season,” Gavitt said in a statement. “But the dialogue around long-term opportunities and challenges related to access and growth will continue, involving all stakeholders in the collegiate basketball community.”
A Field of 68 — For Now
The current 68-team format — which includes four “First Four” play-in games before the traditional 64-team bracket — has been in place since 2011. The structure has brought with it some of the most dramatic and memorable moments in NCAA Tournament history, including deep Cinderella runs and buzzer-beaters that have become embedded in college basketball lore.
For many, the current size strikes a balance between inclusion and excellence, ensuring the tournament doesn’t lose its competitive edge while still allowing mid-majors and smaller conferences a shot at the national stage.
However, the conversation around expansion has intensified in recent years. College football’s shift to a 12-team playoff and the ongoing realignment of conferences across college sports have caused ripple effects, prompting stakeholders to re-evaluate how access is granted in high-profile championships like March Madness.
Pressure from the Power Conferences
One of the key forces behind the push for expansion has been the increasing size of the “Power Five” (and now, effectively, “Power Four”) conferences. With the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 continuing to absorb programs and grow to as many as 18–20 schools apiece, automatic bids and at-large slots are becoming more hotly contested.
With more programs competing at a high level in fewer, larger conferences, some athletic directors and coaches argue that deserving teams are being left out of the tournament because of an outdated model.
“When you’ve got elite-level teams finishing 8th or 9th in their conference and missing the tournament because there are just too many mouths to feed, that’s a problem,” one Power 4 athletic director told ESPN anonymously earlier this summer.
The counter-argument, especially from mid-major conferences, is that expansion risks pushing out the very schools and stories that make the tournament special. Advocates for maintaining or even shrinking the field worry that more slots will simply go to mediocre major-conference teams while mid-majors get fewer chances.
Women’s Game Also Part of the Discussion
Importantly, the women’s tournament is part of the same discussion. The women’s game has seen exponential growth in recent years, fueled by record-breaking TV viewership, massive NIL deals, and superstar athletes like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins.
With over 350 Division I programs in women’s basketball, the call for expanding the women’s tournament has also gained momentum — though many believe investment in exposure and equity should come before adding more teams.
“We want to make sure the quality of the tournament remains elite,” Gavitt said Monday. “Growth must be purposeful, strategic, and aligned with the best interests of both the athletes and the fans.”
Financial and Logistical Hurdles
Another factor complicating expansion is the logistical and financial burden that would come with a larger field. More teams mean more venues, more travel, more hotel rooms, and greater strain on the NCAA’s already-complex operations during March.
While the NCAA generates over $1 billion in revenue annually — the majority of it from the men’s basketball tournament’s broadcast rights — redistributing that money across an expanded tournament structure would require major planning and negotiation.
Additionally, any expansion would need to pass through multiple layers of oversight, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball committees, the NCAA Board of Governors, and potentially a public vote by member institutions.
The Future Is Still Open
Though 2026 will feature the same 68-team setup that fans have come to know and love, the door remains open for change. Gavitt emphasized that future decisions will consider input from coaches, players, administrators, broadcasters, and fans alike.
“We recognize that college athletics is evolving quickly,” Gavitt said. “It’s our responsibility to ensure that our championship events continue to represent the best of college sports — competitively, equitably, and economically.”
With a changing media landscape, the rise of NIL, and increasing pressure from power conferences to secure more postseason slots, the 68-team field may not be permanent. But for now, March Madness — with all its chaos, upsets, and bracket-busting drama — will look familiar in 2026.
And that, for many fans, is reason enough to celebrate.
Leave a Reply