In Indianapolis, it has been confirmed that the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments will remain at 68 teams through 2026. This decision was announced by Dan Gavitt, who is the NCAA senior vice president of basketball, in a statement released on Monday.
Gavitt mentioned that while there won’t be any expansion for the upcoming 2026 championships, the NCAA committees are open to discussing the possibility of expanding the tournament in the future. Conversations are expected to revolve around increasing the tournament field to either 72 or 76 teams for the 2027 championships. This suggests that growth in the number of participating teams is still being considered as a viable option.
NCAA president Charlie Baker has expressed that bringing more teams into the tournament could enhance its overall value. Baker also highlighted that the NCAA has been having productive discussions with television partners CBS and Warner Bros., who have a hefty deal worth around $1.1 billion each year, continuing through 2032. This connection with television networks indicates the NCAA’s willingness to evolve and potentially draw in larger audiences.
The current structure of the tournaments with 68 teams has been in place since 2011, and it’s become a familiar format for fans and teams alike. The debate around expansion reflects ongoing discussions about how to keep college basketball exciting and relevant in an ever-evolving sports landscape.
For now, fans can look forward to another year of the 68-team tournament, but as talks of future expansion continue, it remains to be seen how the NCAA will choose to shape the basketball championship experience for years to come.
