NCAA Basketball Tournament Expands to 76 Teams: Everything You Need to Know

The NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments have officially expanded by eight teams to a new 76-team format, effective immediately for the upcoming season. The expansion means 44 at-large bids will now be awarded, with 32 automatic bids required due to the return of the Pac-12 conference.

This marks the first expansion of the men's tournament since 2011, when the field grew from 65 to 68 teams, and represents the largest expansion since 1985 when the field doubled from 32 to 64. Last season's tournaments featured 68 teams, with 31 automatic bids and 37 at-large selections chosen by the selection committees based on various metrics.

The new format opens the door for a broader range of programs across all levels of college basketball to compete on the national stage.