NCAA Decides to Keep March Madness at 68 Teams for 2025-26 Season Amid Expansion Delays

The NCAA has officially announced that the March Madness tournament will remain at 68 teams for the 2025-26 season, effectively suspending plans for expansion. Despite initial discussions about increasing the field to 72 or 76 teams, the organization decided to maintain the current structure after further deliberation. NCAA President Charlie Baker proposed the idea of expanding the tournament, citing the desire to include more deserving teams, but logistical challenges, particularly scheduling constraints, have prevented immediate implementation. According to NCAA Vice President Dan Gavitt, expansion plans are temporarily on hold, with future discussions scheduled to explore the possibility of enlarging the tournament for the 2027 championships. Baker emphasized that the tight schedule, especially around Selection Sunday and tournament start dates, complicates any expansion plans for the upcoming season. While expansion is currently paused, it remains a topic of interest, with many viewing it as a matter of when rather than if. The NCAA has not yet detailed how an expanded tournament would be structured, but Baker advocates for giving more top teams the opportunity to compete, be...