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In late June, SBNation and many other sources reported that the annual men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament will expand from the current 68 team model to a future 72 or 76 team format as soon as the 2025-2026 season for the 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Leaders met and potential expansion was presented. The NCAA last expanded the “Big Dance” in 2011, adding the “First Four” in Dayton with games between a couple of 11 or 12 seeds and 16 seeds. Per the report, “the reason for hopeful expansion is to avoid taking out the automatic bid but also add in more talented programs and give them a shot”. 2024 NC State is a great example of what leaders want more of as the Wolfpack advanced to the Final Four as an eleven seed this past March and April. The media and fans are against it but the “NCAA is ready to take [expansion of the tournament] on” despite all of the disapproval. The women’s tournament could follow suit with expansion per CBS.
