The NCAA is putting the finishing touches on a major expansion of its men's and women's basketball tournaments, with sources confirming to ESPN that the process could reach its final approval as early as Thursday. Under the proposed changes, both tournaments would grow from their current 68-team fields to 76 teams, marking the most significant structural shift in March Madness in over a decade.

This expansion comes at a time when college basketball is riding a wave of unprecedented popularity, with record-breaking viewership and growing interest in mid-major Cinderella stories. The additional eight spots per tournament—four more teams on each side of the bracket—would create new opportunities for bubble teams and potentially reshape how conference tournaments and Selection Sunday drama unfold.

For fans, this means more basketball, more bracket-busting possibilities, and an even longer road to the Final Four. The extra teams would likely be added through the First Four play-in round, extending the opening week of the tournament and giving smaller conferences a better shot at sending multiple representatives to the big dance. From a competitive standpoint, the expansion could also help address ongoing debates about at-large selections and the strength of schedule metrics that often leave deserving teams on the wrong side of the bubble.

As the final steps are being taken, the college basketball world is buzzing with anticipation. Whether you're stocking up on your favorite team's gear or planning your bracket strategy, one thing is clear: March Madness is about to get even madder.