AP
NCAA Tournament Expansion Basketball
FILE - Virginia guard Kymora Johnson (21) celebrates after a second round game against Iowa in the NCAA college basketball tournament, March 23, 2026, in Iowa City, Iowa.
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March Madness has grown to 76 teams for the men's and women's tournaments. Both events had been at 68 teams. It's unclear whether football-playing power conferences will gobble up the added spots or if it will give more chances for mid-majors to claim bids that can lead to magic March moments. The men's tournament had reached its modern era by growing to 64 teams in 1985, then made small gains to reach 68 by 2011. The women's tournament began in 1982 and reached 64 teams in 1994, but it was unchanged until going to 68 teams in 2022.
