The world of collegiate basketball flips on a dime once again.
After months of speculation, the NCAA is set to officially expand the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Tournament to a total of 76 teams from its original field of 68. This is set to take place ahead of the 2027 tournament.
According to a release via the NCAA, “The NCAA will be able to award more than $131 million in new revenue distributions to member schools participating in the basketball tournaments over the remaining six years of the NCAA's broadcast agreements. After accounting for expenses, the projected surplus will primarily be used to continue investing in the basketball tournaments and enhancing the NCAA championship experience for all student-athletes...”
Here is an updated look at the bracket.
And here it is. pic.twitter.com/e3Rra5Zgcs
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) May 7, 2026
The photo shows the increase in at-large games from four to 12. Here is how it will look.
At-large games
No. 11 vs No. 11 (2)
No. 12 vs No. 12 (4)
Automatic qualifier matchups
No. 15 vs No. 15 (2)
No. 16 vs No. 16 (4)
Meanwhile, this is how the first four looked last season
No. 16 vs No. 16 (2)
No. 11 vs No. 11 (2)
It is also worth noting that half of the games will be played in Dayton, with the other half set for a location that is yet to be named.
How much will this affect the Jayhawks?
Let’s be honest, the Kansas basketball program is fortunate enough to be in a place where it would take a disaster of a season for Bill Self’s squad to be near those aforementioned play-in spots. However, things are affected when you take a look a bit deeper into the bracket. The biggest concern would be if Kansas is awarded a No. 1, No. 5, No. 6, or No. 2 seed, as those teams will at least have a chance at playing a play-in team in the round of 64.
Every No. 1 seed will now be playing a play-in team, every No. 12 vs No. 5 matchup will involve a play-in, two No. 6 vs No. 11 matchups will be played with the No. 11 being a play-in and two No. 2 vs No. 15 games will involve play-in candidates.
There will be no significant scheduling changes for the tournament. A quote from the NCAA explaining the schedule is below.
“[The] 2027 tournament will begin March 16. However, instead of two games Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, there will be three games each day in Dayton and three games each of the two days in a second city, as yet unnamed. The 12 games will be branded the March Madness Opening Round. The round of 64 will continue to be played Thursday and Friday, while the round of 32 remains Saturday and Sunday. Regional and Men's Final Four competition dates are also unchanged.”
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