The NCAA men's basketball tournament is preparing to expand from its current 68-team format to 76 teams, according to an Associated Press report published on October 29, 2026. The expansion would add eight additional teams to the annual championship event commonly known as March Madness.
Details regarding the selection process, bracket structure, and implementation timeline for the expanded format were not specified in the initial report. The NCAA has previously considered tournament expansion as a way to increase participation opportunities and revenue for the flagship collegiate basketball championship.
