March Madness is ‘inching closer’ to expanded field, per report
By Derek Hryn
Published:
Just when you thought March Madness couldn’t get any more chaotic, the NCAA is looking to make that a real possibility.
According to a report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, executives are “inching closer” to an agreement that would expand the field from 68 to 76 teams in 2026-27, adding a 12-game “opening round” across 2 sites before the real bracket begins. Because nothing says “college basketball drama” like making 24 teams play just to see who actually earns a spot in the Round of 64.
The games would still be played Tuesday and Wednesday, with the official Round of 64 tipping off Thursday, but now across two sites instead of just the familiar First Four home of Dayton, Ohio.
Talks about expansion have been floating around for over 3 years, with the 2026-27 season now looking like the target. Only time will tell if all these extra games improve the tournament or just make it unnecessarily convoluted.
At the end of the day, many feel the product is fine the way it was. A 68-team tournament already gives underdogs a chance to shine, Cinderella stories a chance to blossom, and the perfect mix of upsets. But if the last few years have taught us anything in college athletics, it’s that more is never enough. Maybe the College Football Playoff will be 26 teams by 2030. Either way, fans of both postseason events should prepare for the ride.
