The NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball selection committees unanimously voted Thursday to expand both tournaments from 68 to 76 teams beginning in 2027. The decision, which received no dissenting votes, also gained approval from the oversight committees, Division I cabinet, and Board of Governors during an emergency joint meeting.

The expanded format introduces a 24-team opening round with 12 games to determine the final 12 teams for the traditional 64-team bracket. The 12 lowest-seeded automatic conference qualifiers will play six games against each other, while the 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams compete in the other six games. Pairings will match teams close on the overall seed list, with exceptions possible to avoid regular-season rematches or for geographic reasons. Committees will avoid same-conference matchups where feasible.

For the men's tournament, the opening round games will occur Tuesday and Wednesday after Selection Sunday, with three games each day split between Dayton, Ohio, and a second site. The women's opening round shifts to Wednesday and Thursday on the campuses of the 12 top-16 seeds. The main bracket, starting with the round of 64, follows the standard structure through regionals and Final Fours, with men's sites including Charlotte, Fort Worth, Louisville, and others for early rounds.

NCAA leaders hailed the change as a way to provide more championship access. "Providing additional access to the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships for Division I programs will be incredibly meaningful," said NCAA Board of Governors Chair Jim Phillips. Division I Men's Basketball Committee Chair Keith Gill noted it would ensure nearly half of the teams seeded 15 or 16 win at least one game, up from recent winless streaks. The expansion raises participation from 18% to 21% of Division I programs amid growth to 361 men's and 359 women's teams.

Discussions accelerated under NCAA President Charlie Baker, following years of talks influenced by power conferences seeking more bids. CBS Sports' Matt Norlander reported the move locks in long-term change despite public backlash from coaches and analysts who fear diluted quality. This marks the men's first expansion since 2011 and the women's since 2022, when both went to 68 teams.

Financially, the NCAA anticipates over $131 million in new revenue distributions over six years of broadcast deals, plus expanded advertising like beer and spirits. Tournament payouts, or "units," stay the same, but six more conferences gain an extra unit. Broadcast partners CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV, and ESPN supported the shift.

Reactions remain mixed. Some see benefits for mid-majors with guaranteed second games, while critics argue it favors power programs and risks weaker matchups. The NCAA released new bracket visuals on Thursday.