NCAA tournaments to expand to 76 teams in 2027

The NCAA is in the final stages of expanding both the men's and women's tournaments to 76 teams, with formalization expected in the coming weeks. For the men's tournament, the expansion includes eight additional at-large bids, while the "First Four" round will grow from 8 to 12 games involving 24 teams at two sites: Dayton, Ohio and another location west of the Eastern time zone. musojam.blog

While the men's tournament specifics have been outlined, details on how the women's tournament will expand remain unknown. An official announcement from the NCAA is anticipated in mid-May. This expansion marks the most significant change since the tournaments expanded from 32 to 64 teams in 1985, with the last previous expansion coming in 2011 when the men's tournament added the First Four format.