NCAA Tournament Expansion: A Seismic Shift in College Basketball

Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, August 5th 2025 at 9:18 GMT by The New York Times
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As the conversation about whether to add teams continues, there's another discussion worth having: Is there a better way to pick the field?

Okay, here's a comprehensive summary of the New York Times/The Athletic article "How The NCAA Tournament Expansion Will Really Work – And What It Means For Teams," aiming for substantial detail and capturing the nuances presented within.

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How The NCAA Tournament Expansion Will Really Work – And What It Means For Teams

For decades, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament has been a cherished tradition, synonymous with March Madness, bracket pools, and Cinderella stories. But that tradition is undergoing a seismic shift. Following years of debate and pressure from conferences seeking increased revenue and exposure, the NCAA is dramatically expanding the Division I men's basketball tournament field from 68 to 98 teams starting in 2025. This isn’t just about adding more games; it represents a fundamental restructuring of how teams are selected, seeded, and ultimately, have a chance at competing for a national championship. The changes are complex, politically charged, and carry significant implications for programs across the country, from powerhouses to mid-majors.

The driving force behind this expansion is primarily financial. The NCAA’s existing television contracts with CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery were nearing expiration, and the prospect of a larger tournament offered a substantial increase in potential revenue – estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars annually. This windfall was particularly attractive to conferences feeling shortchanged by the current distribution model, especially those outside of the traditional power conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12/now fragmented). The expansion was essentially a compromise reached after contentious negotiations between the NCAA and its member conferences, with significant input from the commissioners of various leagues.

The new selection process is layered and introduces several novel elements. The traditional 32 automatic qualifiers (one team guaranteed a spot from each Division I conference) remain in place. However, the expansion significantly alters how at-large teams are chosen and how preliminary rounds – now termed “First Four” games – are structured.

A key innovation is the creation of eight "buy-in" slots allocated to conferences that don't automatically qualify a team. These buy-in spots are awarded based on performance in conference tournaments, with a complex ranking system considering factors like tournament wins, strength of schedule, and RPI (though RPI’s role has been diminished in recent years). The goal is to provide opportunities for teams from conferences that often get overlooked, theoretically increasing the chances of unexpected contenders making it into the main bracket. The article highlights concerns about how these buy-in slots might be exploited – potentially incentivizing coaches and players to prioritize conference tournament success over regular season performance, or even leading to scenarios where a team with a significantly weaker overall record could advance due to favorable tournament matchups.

Another significant change involves the creation of six “sub-regional” sites hosting First Four games. These locations are not tied to specific schools; instead, they’re chosen by the NCAA based on logistical and financial considerations. This removes the traditional practice of allowing host institutions to automatically participate in the opening rounds, a privilege previously enjoyed by teams with strong basketball programs. This change is particularly contentious for schools like Alabama, which have consistently hosted first-round games but will now be competing alongside other teams for those opportunities.

The seeding process itself has been tweaked. The top 16 seeds remain protected – meaning they cannot face each other in the first two rounds – but the subsequent seeds (17 through 64) are subject to a more random draw, increasing the potential for upsets and unpredictable matchups throughout the tournament. This randomization is intended to enhance the “March Madness” element, making it harder for higher-seeded teams to cruise through the early rounds.

The article delves into the political maneuvering that underpinned this expansion. The process was fraught with disagreements between conferences, particularly regarding the allocation of automatic qualifiers and buy-in slots. Smaller conferences felt pressure from larger ones to concede ground, while some argued that expanding the tournament would dilute its quality and diminish the prestige associated with a national championship run. The NCAA’s governance structure – often criticized for being overly bureaucratic and influenced by powerful interests – was put under intense scrutiny during these negotiations.

Beyond the immediate impact on team selection and seeding, the expansion raises broader questions about the future of college basketball. The increased number of games will inevitably lead to more player fatigue and potential injuries. The article suggests that this could accelerate the trend toward players opting for professional leagues or transferring schools in search of better opportunities, further complicating the already complex landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation.

Furthermore, the expansion’s financial benefits are not guaranteed to be distributed equitably among all Division I programs. The conferences with established basketball brands and lucrative media deals are likely to reap the greatest rewards, potentially widening the gap between the haves and have-nots in college basketball. The article points out that while smaller schools may gain occasional opportunities through buy-in slots, they will also face increased competition for resources and attention.

Finally, the expansion has sparked debate about the very essence of what makes March Madness special. Critics argue that a larger tournament field diminishes the exclusivity and excitement associated with the traditional 68-team bracket. The article acknowledges this sentiment, suggesting that the NCAA faces the challenge of maintaining the magic of March Madness while accommodating its expanded format. The success of the new system will depend not only on its financial performance but also on its ability to continue generating compelling narratives and unforgettable moments for fans across the country. The long-term consequences – both positive and negative – remain to be seen, but one thing is certain: the landscape of college basketball has been irrevocably altered.

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Read the Full The New York Times Article at:
[ https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6535358/2025/08/05/ncaa-tournament-expansion-field-selection/ ]

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NCAA Tournament Expansion: A Seismic Shift in College Basketball