Brett Yormark, the Big 12 commissioner, expressed support for expanding the men’s NCAA Tournament to 76 teams during the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. He anticipates a decision on this matter to be made in the coming months, potentially leading to changes in the tournament format as soon as next year. Yormark emphasized the importance of ensuring that the economics of the expansion work, highlighting the role of television networks like CBS and TNT in this process. The upcoming March Madness event will mark the 40th edition of the men’s tournament since its expansion to 64 teams in 1985, followed by the current 68-team setup. The women’s tournament has also seen growth, expanding to 64 teams in 1994 and adding four more teams in 2022. Last year, the NCAA proposed a plan to expand both the men’s and women’s tournaments, offering options for four or eight additional teams while maintaining the 64-team bracket and incorporating play-in games. While a vote on the expansion is not imminent, considerations around game operations, travel logistics, and financial implications are being carefully weighed, according to NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt. Despite the complexities involved, Gavitt acknowledged the evolving landscape of college athletics, including factors like name, image, and likeness, as well as conference realignment, that could impact the future of the tournaments. Yormark believes there is growing interest in expanding the tournament field, and he expects decisions to be made in the coming months to address this matter without diluting the tournament’s appeal.
