NCAA Expands March Madness to 76 Teams, Redesigning Opening Rounds and Revenue

The NCAA plans to expand both the men’s and women’s March Madness to 76 teams in the near future, adding 24 at-large bids to 52 automatic bids, replacing the First Four with a larger 12-game opening round, and overhauling the TV/broadcast setup to accommodate the bigger field. Approval from multiple NCAA committees is still required, with proponents arguing it boosts access and revenue and opponents worrying about diminishing regular-season importance.