NCAA president Charlie Baker calls for NCAA Tournament expansion

Expansion is not a new conversation regarding the NCAA Tournament

Conversations about expanding the tournament aren't anything new. In 2010, there was talk about expanding the NCAA Tournament to 128 teams. 

That expansion never happened, of course. Instead, the NCAA did announce an expansion to 96 teams. Three weeks after that, however, with a new TV deal signed with CBS/Turner, it was announced that the field would be expanded to 68 teams instead. 

More recently, the conversation around expansion has centered on raising the playing field to 72 or 76 teams, as The Athletic reported in October of 2025. Even back then, Baker was firmly in favor of expansion. 

“One of the reasons I’m interested in expanding the tournament, although it comes with a lot of logistical complications and everything else, is, I do think there are teams that didn’t make the tournament that should have,” Baker said in 2025. “And it bummed me out that they didn’t get in.”

What would an expanded NCAA Tournament field look like?

Assuming the 72 or 76 team field is the target size for expansion, there are some major logistics that could get in the way. In particular, that sized field would force either an adjustment to the 64-team bracket or a massive expansion of play-in games. 

What shape the actual NCAA Tournament takes is then going to be a major question. As it stands now, that's up for speculation. A 72-team field would allow for eight play in games instead of four. That becomes a little less practical at 76 teams, but not impossible. It could also lead to a major shakeup to the 64-team bracket, changing the number of teams receiving an effective bye into the bracket.

There is concern that the expansion isn't being done with pure motives and that it's being done to squeeze more money out of a good product or get more marquee brands into the field, even if they were not deserving by record in previous years. 

While others support expansion and agree with Baker's sentiment on ensuring deserving teams get in the field, the reality is that there will still be teams on the bubble that don't get in.

It's not wrong for fans to have concerns. In particular, that expansion could have unintended consequences for a beloved tournament. So, Baker and the NCAA will need to expand as carefully as possible if they do so.