The NCAA has officially announced a major expansion to its popular March Madness tournaments, increasing both the men’s and women’s competitions from 68 teams to 76 teams beginning next season.

The long-anticipated decision will add eight additional teams to each tournament, creating more games during the opening week while largely preserving the overall structure fans are familiar with.

Under the new format, the tournaments will feature an expanded opening stage consisting of 12 games involving 24 teams. This replaces the current “First Four” setup and will now be officially branded as the “March Madness Opening Round.”

The winners from these opening-round matchups will then advance into the traditional 64-team main bracket. The men’s tournament schedule will continue to begin on Thursday, while the women’s main bracket will start on Friday as usual.

NCAA officials said the expansion is intended to provide more opportunities for teams to participate in college basketball’s biggest annual event while also increasing excitement during the opening days of the tournament.

The change marks the first expansion of March Madness in 15 years. The tournament last grew in 2011, when the field expanded from 65 teams to 68 teams and introduced the First Four format.

March Madness remains one of the most watched sporting events in the United States, generating massive television audiences, sponsorship revenue, and fan engagement every year. The additional games are expected to further boost viewership and commercial opportunities for the NCAA and broadcasting partners.

Supporters of the expansion argue that more deserving teams from smaller conferences and competitive leagues will now have a better chance of qualifying for the national tournament. However, some critics believe the expansion could slightly reduce the exclusivity and intensity traditionally associated with making the tournament field.

Despite the changes, NCAA officials emphasized that the core identity and excitement of March Madness will remain intact, with the single-elimination format continuing to determine college basketball’s national champions.

Further details regarding scheduling, host sites, and television arrangements for the new opening round are expected to be released ahead of next season.