March Madness Expands to 76 Teams Starting 2026

Starting next season, 16 more college basketball teams will get their shot at March Madness dreams.

The NCAA announced Thursday that both the men's and women's tournaments will expand from 68 to 76 teams. That means eight additional games in each bracket, creating what organizers are calling the March Madness Opening Round.

The change transforms the current First Four into a bigger event with 12 games involving 24 teams during the opening week. Winners advance to the main 64-team bracket, which still tips off Thursday for men and Friday for women, keeping the familiar rhythm fans love.

For players and programs, the expansion means more opportunities. The number of at-large selections jumps from 37 to 44, giving talented teams that narrowly missed the cut a second chance at tournament glory.

The NCAA secured funding for the expansion through new sponsorship partnerships worth around $300 million. More than $131 million of that revenue will go directly to schools that make the tournament, rewarding athletic programs and supporting student athletes.

The Ripple Effect

The expansion creates meaningful benefits beyond the power conferences. Smaller programs will earn additional tournament "units" worth about $350,000 each for simply making the bracket and advancing through rounds.

These financial rewards help mid-major schools invest in facilities, coaching, and support for athletes. Big Sky Conference commissioner Tom Wistrcill noted the expansion opens doors for building stronger basketball programs across all levels.

Lower-seeded teams also get more evenly matched first-round games, giving them better odds of notching that first tournament victory. That means more communities across America will experience the electric energy of March Madness success.

The tournament structure stays largely intact. After the opening round, 64 teams compete in the familiar bracket format over three weeks, building to the Final Four finale.

Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's senior vice president of basketball, confirmed the expansion maximizes opportunities while preserving what makes March Madness special. The core tournament experience that fans love remains untouched.

Both tournaments will still crown their champions in early April, delivering the same heart-pounding moments that have defined college basketball's signature event for generations.

More teams means more students, coaches, and communities get to experience the thrill of competing on college basketball's grandest stage.