NCAA President Charlie Baker recently addressed the media at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, shedding light on the ongoing discussions about expanding the NCAA Tournament. As the annual mock NCAA Tournament seeding exercise unfolded, Baker made his stance clear: he's in favor of expansion.
“We’re still talking about it,” Baker shared with reporters, emphasizing his support for the idea. The concept of expanding the tournament beyond its current 68-team field has been a hot topic among collegiate leaders and basketball enthusiasts alike.
For NCAA executives and member schools, expanding the tournament presents a lucrative opportunity, especially with the potential to renegotiate media rights for their most profitable event. However, fans express concerns that expansion might dilute the excitement of the postseason.
Despite these concerns, talks of expansion have gained momentum. Last October, insider Ross Dellenger reported that the expansion is edging closer to reality, with discussions pointing towards an increase from 68 to 76 teams starting in the 2026-27 season.
According to the proposal circulated last fall, the additional eight teams would join the existing “First Four” play-in round. This new format would feature 24 teams competing in 12 games over two days, with the winners advancing to join the other 52 teams in the traditional first-round field.
Kansas head coach Bill Self initially expressed skepticism about the proposal. Reflecting on past expansions, Self noted his initial hesitations each time the field grew, from 48 to 54, then to 64, and finally to 68 teams.
“I don’t know if that’s the most positive thing,” he commented, adding that logistical considerations, like fitting the tournament into a three-weekend window alongside The Masters on CBS, complicate matters. Despite his reservations, Self acknowledged the complexity of the issue, leaving room for further discussion.