NCAA Tournament expansion expected to be finalized for 2027, per report
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The NCAA is reportedly in the final stages of expanding the NCAA Tournament from 68 to 76 teams.
While expansion has been debated and discussed for years, ESPN’s Pete Thamel was first to report that it’s now in the “final steps” of approval. Formalized expansion of the NCAA Tournament, which would begin in 2027, is on track to be announced in mid-May, according to Thamel.
Under the new NCAA Tournament format, 8 additional at-large berths would be created. As a result, the play-in round traditionally played in Dayton, Ohio, would be expanded to include 24 teams across 2 days.
According to Thamel, play-in round games would take place at 2 sites — likely Dayton and another site “west of the Eastern time zone.”
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Under this new format, the Round of 64 would still begin with its traditional 16 games on Thursday and Friday of the first weekend. There would be no other changes to the NCAA Tournament schedule.
Per Thamel, the women’s NCAA Tournament is also set to expand to 76 teams. The current women’s format has included 68 teams since 2022.
Expansion has been a consistent part of the NCAA Tournament’s history. Just 8 teams were included when the tournament first began in 1939. By 1985, the tournament included 64 programs each March. The last round of expansion came in 2011 when it grew to 68 teams and the “First Four” round in Dayton was created.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
