NCAA Tournament Expansion Basketball

FILE - TCU guard Donovyn Hunter (4) places the team placard on the bracket board after the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament March 22, 2026, Fort Worth, Texas.

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Fueled by beer ads, March Madness tournaments will expand to 76 teams each starting next season

Fueled by beer ads, March Madness tournaments will expand to 76 teams each starting next season

The NCAA will expand its March Madness tournaments by eight teams each next season. It will add more early-round games in the first week without altering the overall format. The new 76-team brackets for men and women will feature 12 games involving 24 teams. The winners will join the main 64-team bracket starting Thursday for men and Friday for women. Most new slots are expected to go to power conference teams.