NCAA Bracket set to change

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (KYMA) - The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is poised for expansion, with plans in place to grow the field from 68 to 76 teams as early as next season.

While the tournament is expected to include more teams, the traditional 64-team bracket that begins with the round of 64 will remain unchanged. The primary difference will come before that stage, with additional at-large teams competing for a spot in the main draw.

Under the proposed format, the “First Four” round would expand significantly, increasing from four games to 12. Those games would feature 24 teams playing at two sites, effectively adding eight more teams to the tournament field before the standard bracket begins.

The expansion aims to provide more opportunities for at-large teams to qualify while preserving the structure fans are familiar with during the later rounds.

The proposal still requires final approval from the NCAA, but momentum is building for the change, making an expanded tournament in the near future increasingly likely.

If implemented, the move would mark one of the most significant changes to the tournament format in years and could reshape the early rounds of March Madness.