March Madness just got bigger — and some coaches aren’t sure that’s a good thing

Fifteen years after its last expansion, the NCAA Tournament is once again set for a broader field.

On Thursday, May 7, the NCAA formally ratified a proposal to expand both the men’s and women’s tournaments from 68 to 76 teams — or, approximately one-fifth of all Division I programs.

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Coaches expressed mixed sentiment on the expansion, which comes as NCAA and collegiate sports leaders also grapple with widening the 12-team College Football Playoff.

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

What if? What 76-team expanded NCAA Tournament would have looked like in 2026

“I’m in favor of three weeks,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said to a group of reporters. “It’s really hard to win six games in three weeks. I’m all in favor of the smaller teams having a chance to be in this tournament, I really am.

“As long as we stay in a three-week period, I think that’s all we got and I think it’s the best sporting event going because we’re going to allow more and more teams to be a part of it, obviously, and it’s going to impact the country in every state. I don’t have a problem with that at all, but the fact is, it’s hard to win six games. But there may be somebody to come through there and win seven or eight games, whatever it takes to get to the championship.”

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2026: Michigan Wolverines

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2026: Michigan Wolverines

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2025: Florida Gators

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2024: Connecticut Huskies

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2023: Connecticut Huskies

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2022: Kansas Jayhawks

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2021: Baylor Bears

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2019: Virginia Cavaliers

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March Madness: Men’s college…

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Publish date : 2026-05-07 20:53:00

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