NCAA Tournament expansion won't kill March Madness but will make it worse

Q: What is the new format for the NCAA basketball tournament?

The NCAA basketball tournament will expand from 68 teams to 76 teams starting next season.

Q: Why did the NCAA decide to expand the tournament?

The NCAA expanded the tournament to reflect the significant growth of the event since its inception in 1939.

Q: How long did the NCAA tournament go without major changes?

The NCAA tournament went 42 years without a major shift before this expansion.

Q: What impact will the expansion have on March Madness?

The expansion is expected to make March Madness less exciting, according to critics.

NCAA Tournament expansion won't kill March Madness but will make it worse

Way to get rid of the fun.

After hinting at it for the past two years, the NCAA finally did what many people didn’t want and expanded its basketball tournaments, upping the field from 68 teams to 76 beginning next season.

Historically, it makes sense given this tournament has had significant growth since the first edition of eight teams in 1939. In fact, the 42 years without a major shift was the longest it had gone without expanding.

Why so long? That’s because it finally found the perfect balance. Now, the NCAA is trying to ruin its most sacred postseason, dismantling all the work necessary to make March the spectacle it is.

SOUNDING OFF: What coaches think of March Madness expanding

The organization will tell you it’s expanding the field because it was necessary, giving one-fifth of its 361 teams a shot at the exclusive spot. More teams means better matchups, so more drama and opportunities for madness. The NCAA also won’t mind the extra money that comes with it.

However, do those teams that are just missing out really deserve a shot? Because it has shown none of it looks pretty.

It has everything to do with who is getting these extra spots. You know who this expansion is really for, and if you need a hint: it’s not those small schools.

The NCAA tried to say since the first four out started in 2011, 42% of teams to just miss the cut came from non-power conferences. With that logic, more of the mid-majors will get in, right?

No way. The smaller conferences have dwindled recently. Of the 24 teams to miss out since 2021, just seven were mid-majors. That’s just 29%. Plus with the new seeding, automatic qualifiers all get bumped a seed down. So a No. 13 seed in the field of 68 can end up a No. 14 in the field of 76.

That’s why those at the mid-major level are skeptical they will see any benefits of this.

“I think the intention of expansion is only to get more power conference teams in the tournament, and that's frustrating. Every year, there's a couple of teams in that mid-major group that I think would add a lot to the tournament that get excluded,” UC Irvine coach Russell Turner told USA TODAY Sports in July. “You could be optimistic, but knowing how the tournament bids are being chosen with the formulas that they're using, I don't think that optimism is well placed.”

More and more, the selection committee has pushed away mid-majors in favor of power teams, and it’s an ugly way to go about it. Just look at who barely missed out on the field in 2026.

Congratulations, 18-14 Indiana and 17-16 Auburn get a shot to play for a title. Quality wins or not, they have zero business being in the bracket compared to teams that did more in their respective conferences.

With the way the tournament is trending, the regular season loses even more of its luster, and puts a bigger spotlight on the bigger conference teams that should be behind the curtain.

Now, those fringe contenders are going to do everything to schedule easier buy games to make the lipstick look a little bit better on the pig, leaving those quality mid-majors scrambling for opponents like Miami (Ohio).

When the race to the tournament really begins in February, we’re going to be discussing teams hovering around .500 because they are getting punched around in the Big Ten or SEC, but that one or two Quad 1 wins suddenly makes them a contender. Rather than make it an exciting sprint to the end, we’ll be spending time focusing on teams you want to shield your eyes from. It’s getting close to the “SEC-Big Ten-Big 12-ACC-Big East” invitational status.

Iowa State Cyclones fans cheer against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

Kansas Jayhawks cheerleaders perform before a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the St. John's Red Storm at Viejas Arena on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.

Nebraska's Berke Buyuktuncel celebrates with fans following a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on March 21, 2026.

Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

VCU Rams fans react after a 3-pointer by Terrence Hill Jr. #6 of the VCU Rams in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

Howard Bison cheerleaders perform during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Michigan Wolverines at Keybank Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.

BYU Cougars cheerleader in the second half against the Texas Longhorns during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

Former North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams is seen in the crowd against the VCU Rams in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Mar 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

Texas A&M Aggies cheerleaders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.

Texas Longhorns band in the first half against the BYU Cougars during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Portland.

St. John's Red Storm mascot Johnny Thunder mixes with players prior to taking the court during practice day ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 19, 2026 in San Diego, California.

A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

The High Point Panthers fans cheer during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.

The High Point Panthers cheerleaders react during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.

The North Dakota State Bison mascot and cheerleaders pose for a photo before the game against the Michigan State Spartans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY

Nebraska Cornhuskers fans cheer after defeating the Troy Trojans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.

The Wisconsin Badgers mascot performs during a time out during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland.

A view of Buddy the Street Dog as Queens University of Charlotte Royals guard Yoav Berman talks to the media during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on March 19, 2026.

The High Point Panthers band performs prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.

High Point Panthers fans cheer prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.

The Wisconsin Badgers cheerleaders preform during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.

The South Florida Bulls mascot performs during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Keybank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.

The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleaders perform in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

The Troy Trojans mascot dances on the floor during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.

The UCF Knights band performs during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 19, 2026 in Philadelphia.

Nebraska Cornhuskers cheerleaders perform during the second half against the Troy Trojans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.

A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader performs during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.

The Ohio State Buckeyes cheerleaders perform in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

Akron Zips fans in the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.

Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders in the first half against the Akron Zips during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.

Santa Clara Broncos fans react to game play against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St. Louis, MO.

Akron Zips cheerleaders and mascot in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.

Wright State Raiders fans celebrate after a Wright State Raiders guard TJ Burch (22) scores during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.

Hofstra Pride cheerleaders in the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.

Garth Noble of the Louisville pep band is amped at the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky. March 21, 2026.

Michigan head coach Dusty May high-fives players after 95-72 win over Saint Louis at the NCAA Tournament Second Round at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish band and spirit squad cheer during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Fairfield Stags at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.

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Kansas Jayhawks cheerleaders perform before a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the St. John's Red Storm at Viejas Arena on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.

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Arkansas Razorbacks cheerleaders in the second half against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

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Howard Bison cheerleaders perform during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Michigan Wolverines at Keybank Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.

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BYU Cougars cheerleader in the second half against the Texas Longhorns during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Portland, Ore.

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Texas A&M Aggies cheerleaders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.

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Texas Longhorns band in the first half against the BYU Cougars during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center on Mar 19, 2026 in Portland.

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The High Point Panthers fans cheer during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.

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Nebraska Cornhuskers fans cheer after defeating the Troy Trojans during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City.

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The High Point Panthers band performs prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.

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High Point Panthers fans cheer prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Or.

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The UCF Knights band performs during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 19, 2026 in Philadelphia.

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The Ohio State Buckeyes cheerleaders perform in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

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Akron Zips fans in the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Fla.

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Garth Noble of the Louisville pep band is amped at the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky. March 21, 2026.

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Michigan head coach Dusty May high-fives players after 95-72 win over Saint Louis at the NCAA Tournament Second Round at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

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It’s unfortunate, because the build up to Selection Sunday is part of the magic. You want to see quality teams fighting to get in, not a mid-off between squads fighting one of the worst fights you’ll ever watch.

The NCAA wants to get more people inside the door. The problem is the teams being let through are ones that shouldn’t even be knocking in the first place, and those that should get in aren’t even getting the invite. Let in a 26-6 Belmont team that won the Missouri Valley regular-season title over middling Indiana who’s limping on the porch because of program recognition.

Thankfully, this isn’t the complete end of the tournament. Teams like 2024 Indiana State and 24-win Boise State in 2025 that barely missed out then will get a shot in the future, and that’s what most teams are asking for. If there is a better focus on getting the right teams – not brands – then expansion wins.

The days leading up to Selection Sunday will be ugly, but this doesn’t wreck the tournament completely. The first round and everything after stays intact, meaning the first round madness is still going to happen. For as much has been changed, the best part is untouched. It will just be an unfortunate start before the greatest show in basketball can officially begin.

The NCAA hasn’t killed the NCAA Tournament, but it’s getting better at ruining it.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Does NCAA Tournament expansion kill March Madness? No, but it's worse

NCAA Tournament expansion won't kill March Madness but will make it worse

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

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