Like it or not, March Madness is expanding to 76 teams, starting next season

March Madness is expanding.

The men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments will grow to 76 teams starting next season, following a vote by the NCAA selection committees, Thursday, May 7.

CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander reported Thursday’s vote was unanimous: “Not a single dissenting vote.”

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OPINION: Expanding the NCAA Tournament won’t make it better

It’s the first time the NCAA tournament will expand on the men’s side since it went for 65 to 68 teams in 2011, and the women’s side followed suit in 2022. However, it’s the first major expansion since the men went from 53 to 64 in 1985, and the women’s jumped from 48 to 64 since 1994.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Kansas Jayhawks cheerleaders perform before a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament against the St. John’s Red Storm at Viejas Arena on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Nebraska’s Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

VCU Rams fans…

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Publish date : 2026-05-07 18:01:00

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