Love it or hate it, March Madness is about to get even bigger. The NCAA announced Thursday that both the men's and women's basketball tournaments will expand from 68 to 76 teams, starting next season.

The vote by the NCAA selection committees was unanimous, according to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander—not a single dissenting voice. That's a clear signal that the powers that be see more teams as a win for the sport.

This marks the first expansion on the men's side since the tournament grew from 65 to 68 teams back in 2011. The women's tournament followed that same jump in 2022. But here's the real headline: this is the most significant expansion since the men's bracket went from 53 to 64 teams in 1985, and the women's went from 48 to 64 in 1994. That's nearly four decades of relative stability—until now.

What does this mean for fans? More teams, more drama, more Cinderella stories. With eight extra spots up for grabs, bubble teams that once spent Selection Sunday sweating it out might find themselves dancing. And for the apparel lovers out there? That means more schools will be selling tournament gear, more fans will be buying, and more brackets will be busted.

Of course, not everyone is thrilled. Critics argue that expansion dilutes the product and waters down the excitement of the tournament's opening rounds. But the NCAA is betting that more teams equals more engagement—and more revenue.

Whether you're stocking up on your favorite team's gear or just love the chaos of March, one thing's for sure: the madness is only getting started.