Get ready for more March Madness—because the NCAA Tournament is about to get even bigger.

The NCAA is reportedly closing in on a major expansion of both the men's and women's college basketball tournaments, moving from the current 68-team format to a 76-team field. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the change is targeting the 2026-27 season, with a formal announcement possible in early May. While the idea has been floating around for over a year, momentum is now building fast—NCAA leadership has already met with media partners to hash out the financial and logistical details.

So, what would a 76-team tournament look like? The biggest change comes right at the start. Instead of the familiar "First Four" play-in games, the opening round would expand to feature 24 teams battling it out in 12 games over two days. The winners of those matchups would then join the other 52 teams already slotted into the main bracket. After that, the tournament would feel much like the March Madness fans know and love—just with a few more Cinderella stories waiting to happen.

Unsurprisingly, reactions are mixed. For the NCAA, the logic is simple: the tournament is its biggest revenue engine, and more teams mean more games, more broadcast inventory, and a bigger payday from media rights deals. In an era of constant financial pressure across college athletics, that extra cash is hard to pass up.

But for many fans and analysts, the expansion raises concerns about what makes the tournament special in the first place. The NCAA Tournament has long been celebrated as one of the best postseason formats in sports, thanks to its urgency, unpredictability, and the sense that every game is a must-win. Adding more teams risks diluting that magic—and turning a beloved sprint into a slightly longer jog.

Whether you're stocking up on gear for your bracket pool or just dreaming of a 12-seed making a run, one thing's for sure: March is about to get a little more crowded.