NCAA March Madness tournaments could expand to 76 teams in 2027
The new format would add eight more at-large teams, and take eight more teams out of the main bracket for play-in games.
The NCAA is still deliberating expanding March Madness on both the men's and women's sides to 76 teams for next season — a much-expected development that's been in the works for years.
The NCAA released a brief statement Tuesday in the wake of an ESPN report that cited unnamed sources saying a decision to add eight teams to the bracket is a mere formality that's expected in May.
Sources also later confirmed the possible expansion to CBS Sports. One source told CBS Sports that there is a "very, very small chance" that the expansion plan could be reversed.
"Expanding the basketball tournaments would require approval from multiple NCAA committees, including the men's and women's basketball committees, and no final recommendations or decisions have been made at this time," the NCAA said in a statement provided to CBS News Tuesday.
Those committees include the men's and women's oversight committees, the men's and women's basketball selection committees, the Division I cabinet and the NCAA's Board of Governors, according to CBS Sports.
Earlier this month at the Final Four, NCAA President Charlie Baker said the committees would, in fact, return to discussing the expansion once this year's tournament was over.