NCAA President Charlie Baker Says March Madness Expansion Talks Are Underway

While the College Football Playoff grabs the bulk of the realignment spotlight, March Madness could be next in line for a major shakeup. NCAA president Charlie Baker confirmed Wednesday that the organization is actively exploring expansion of the NCAA Tournament—and that a decision could come soon.

“Our goal here is to try to sort of either get to yes or no sometime in the next few months,” Baker said during the Big 12’s spring meetings in Arizona. “Because there’s a lot of logistical work that would be associated with doing this if we were to go down this road.”

 

The quote, shared by Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel, adds weight to a growing conversation among coaches and administrators. Earlier this week, Kansas head coach Bill Self said Big 12 men’s basketball coaches are in favor of expanding the tournament field. That came on the heels of reports that the NCAA is reviewing models that could grow the bracket beyond the current 68 teams.

Exactly how many teams would be added—and who benefits most—remains the central debate. Advocates for expansion argue the field should evolve alongside conference realignment, allowing more bids from deeper leagues like the Big 12 and SEC. Critics warn that it could dilute the quality of the event and further marginalize mid-major programs.

For now, the committee’s timeline is clear: get to yes or no, and do it fast. If expansion does happen, changes would likely begin no earlier than the 2026-27 tournament. But in a rapidly shifting college sports landscape, nothing is off the table—and March Madness could be the next to evolve.