Sanity Prevails: NCAA Tournament to Remain a 68 Team Field

While the NCAA weighed expanding the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments from their current 68 team format this offseason, the respective postseasons will remain as-is during the 2025-26 season, per a Monday, Aug. 4 announcement from Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Dan Gavitt.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news first.

“Expanding the tournament fields is no longer being contemplated for the 2026 men’s and women’s basketball championships,” Gavitt’s statement read. “However, the committees will continue conversations on whether to recommend expanding to 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2027 championships.”

While an expanded tournament could benefit the Villanova Wildcats, who have finished just outside the field in each of the past three seasons, most fans and pundits alike decry the idea of expansion because of how it could water down the competitive field.

In an era of sports where TV revenue is driving schedule expansion across the board, from the NFL to college football and basketball — both the men’s and women’s basketball regular seasons will expand from 31 games to 32 beginning during the 2026-27 campaign — this marks a rare win for the status quo.

With that said, Gavitt’s statement left the door open for tournament expansion beginning as soon as next season. How long the desire for parity can outweigh the almighty dollar remains unclear.

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