NCAA Planning Expanded 76-Team March Madness Tournament Starting Next Season
The NCAA is planning to expand the March Madness tournament to 76 teams starting next season, marking a significant change in the tournament's format. This expansion will apply to both the men's and women's tournaments and will replace the existing play-in games with an opening round. While the expansion is expected to have a modest financial upside, it has sparked debate over its impact on competition and the urgency of the regular season.
- ▪The tournament will increase from 68 to 76 teams, the largest expansion in decades.
- ▪An opening round of 12 games will be introduced, featuring 24 teams in two locations.
- ▪The expansion aims to improve accessibility for Division I schools and create revenue opportunities.
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| Original publisher | Forbes — Business |
| Canonical URL | https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/04/28/ncaa-planning-expanded-76-team-march-madness-tournament-starting-next-season/ |
| Publication time | Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:53:39 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-04-28T23:36:43.570Z |
| Last seen | 2026-04-28T23:36:43.570Z |
| Headline source | Publisher (no WeSearch rewrite) |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
BreakingBusinessNCAA Planning Expanded 76-Team March Madness Tournament Starting Next SeasonByAntonio Pequeño IV,Forbes Staff. Pequeño is a breaking news reporter who covers tech and more.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 06:53pm EDTApr 28, 2026, 07:42pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplineThe NCAA is set to expand March Madness to 76 teams starting next season, according to multiple reports—the tournament’s most significant expansion in decades.The change will be effective next season.Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty ImagesKey FactsThe expansion, which is in the final steps of being greenlit, according to ESPN, will increase the number of March Madness teams from 68 to 76.The expansion will reportedly…
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