How many teams will be in March Madness starting in 2027?

Expansion Details

The NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments will expand from 64 to 76 teams beginning with the 2026-27 season. This expansion creates eight additional at-large spots in the tournament. The new format will feature a 24-team opening round that whittles the field down to the traditional 64-team tournament structure.

Opening Round Format

Teams that would have previously qualified as at-large bids in the 64-team tournament will now compete in the opening round. The opening round games will be held somewhere west of the Eastern Time Zone. This represents a significant change to the tournament structure that has been in place for decades.

Historical Context

This is the first expansion to the men's tournament since the addition of the First Four games in 2011. It is the first major expansion since the tournament expanded from 53 to 64 teams in 1985. The decision comes after discussions that have been ongoing for well over a year.

Motivation Behind Expansion

Power conferences have been pushing for the tournament expansion to gain more access to March Madness for their teams. The eight additional at-large spots directly address this goal, providing greater opportunity for conference teams to qualify for the tournament.

Formalization Timeline

The NCAA has initiated the final steps toward expansion formalization. An official announcement is expected around mid-May 2026, with the expansion set to take effect immediately for the upcoming 2026-27 season.