NCAA basketball tournament won't expand for 2026, possible in 2027
One of the most divisive topics in college hoops, the expansion of the tournament had been picking up steam in recent months by the high powers of college sports. At a Big 12 meeting in May, NCAA president Charlie Baker told reporters the NCAA had "good conversation" with its media partners about the possibility of increasing the number of teams in the field and wanted a final determination in the coming months.
On July 10, Gavitt said no decision was made on tournament expansion after it was "discussed at length" during meetings for the committees. While those in power had building toward expansion, the possibility of it has drawn the ire of college basketball enthusiasts, with the common belief adding more teams ruins what is considered a perfect tournament, with any and all tweaks unwarranted.
The men's tournament expanded from 53 teams to 64 in 1985, and the format stood until 2011, when the First Four was introduced and grew the field from 65 to 68 teams. On the women's side, the bracket increased from 48 teams to 64 in 1994, and the First Four was also implemented in 2022.
When the First Four was expanded, it meant more at-large selections and conference tournament champions had to play their way into participating in the first round of the tournament. It led to Cinderella runs to the Final Four like Virginia Commonwealth in 2011 and UCLA in 2021.
NCAA Tournament expansion history
Here's a look at the history of the NCAA men's tournament expansion:
1951 : expands from eight to 16 teams
: expands from eight to 16 teams 1953 : grows to 22 teams
: grows to 22 teams 1975 : expands to 32 teams
: expands to 32 teams 1979 : grows to 40 teams
: grows to 40 teams 1980 : expands to 48 teams
: expands to 48 teams 1983 : grows to 52 teams
: grows to 52 teams 1985 : expands to 64 teams
: expands to 64 teams 2001 : adds one team for opening round play-in, expands to 65
: adds one team for opening round play-in, expands to 65 2011: First Four added, grows field to 68
Here's the expansion history of the NCAA women's tournament:
1982: 32 teams
32 teams 1983: grows to 36 teams
grows to 36 teams 1984: dwindles back to 32 teams
dwindles back to 32 teams 1986: grows to 40 teams
grows to 40 teams 1989: expands to 48 teams
expands to 48 teams 1994: grows to 64 teams
grows to 64 teams 2022: First Four added, expands to 68 teams
Contributing: Craig Meyer
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"Expanding the tournament fields is no longer being contemplated for the 2026 men's and women's basketball championships. However, the committees will continue conversations on whether to recommend expanding to 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2027 championships," Gavitt said. One of the most divisive topics in college hoops, the expansion of the tournament had been picking up steam in recent months by the high powers of college sports. At a Big 12 meeting in May, NCAA president Charlie Baker told reporters the NCAA had "good conversation" with its media partners about the possibility of increasing the number of teams in the field and wanted a final determination in the coming months. On July 10, Gavitt said no decision was made on tournament expansion after it was "discussed at length" during meetings for the committees. While those in power had building toward expansion, the possibility of it has drawn the ire of college basketball enthusiasts, with the common belief adding more teams ruins what is considered a perfect tournament, with any and all tweaks unwarranted. The men's tournament expanded from 53 teams to 64 in 1985, and the format stood until 2011, when the First Four was introduced and grew the field from 65 to 68 teams. On the women's side, the bracket increased from 48 teams to 64 in 1994, and the First Four was also implemented in 2022. When the First Four was expanded, it meant more at-large selections and conference tournament champions had to play their way into participating in the first round of the tournament. It led to Cinderella runs to the Final Four like Virginia Commonwealth in 2011 and UCLA in 2021. NCAA Tournament expansion history Here's a look at the history of the NCAA men's tournament expansion: 1951 : expands from eight to 16 teams : expands from eight to 16 teams 1953 : grows to 22 teams : grows to 22 teams 1975 : expands to 32 teams : expands to 32 teams 1979 : grows to 40 teams : grows to 40 teams 1980 : expands to 48 teams : expands to 48 teams 1983 : grows to 52 teams : grows to 52 teams 1985 : expands to 64 teams : expands to 64 teams 2001 : adds one team for opening round play-in, expands to 65 : adds one team for opening round play-in, expands to 65 2011: First Four added, grows field to 68 Here's the expansion history of the NCAA women's tournament: 1982: 32 teams 32 teams 1983: grows to 36 teams grows to 36 teams 1984: dwindles back to 32 teams dwindles back to 32 teams 1986: grows to 40 teams grows to 40 teams 1989: expands to 48 teams expands to 48 teams 1994: grows to 64 teams grows to 64 teams 2022: First Four added, expands to 68 teams Contributing: Craig Meyer
