Sports
NCAA basketball tournaments closing in on 76-team March Madness starting in 2027: Sources
The NCAA is working toward expansion of the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to 76 teams for next season, with hopes of finalizing a plan next month.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that the NCAA was initiating the final steps of expansion, but multiple people involved in expansion talks told The Athletic on Tuesday that there are still several key steps remaining to get a deal done.
“Expanding the basketball tournaments would require approval from multiple NCAA committees, including the men’s and women’s basketball committees, and no final recommendation or decisions have been made at this time,” the NCAA said in a statement.
The framework, though, has come together, and the number being targeted is 76. Eight more at-large teams would be added to the field, and the First Four opening round, currently held in Dayton, Ohio, would be expected to grow from four games to 12, with an additional host site added.
Which teams play in those opening-round games also still needs to be determined, but the current mix of the lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the final at-large selections is the preferred choice of television partners.
Using the NCAA’s NET ranking to add eight more at-large teams to this year’s 68-team field and the current selection process, the opening round for a hypothetical 76-team tournament in 2026 would have looked something like this:
If the 2026 tournament had 76 teams
| Team 1 | Team 2 |
|---|---|
|
No. 11 NC State (ACC) |
No. 11 Texas (SEC) |
|
No. 11 SMU (ACC) |
No. 11 Miami (Ohio) (MAC) |
|
No. 11 Auburn (SEC) |
No. 11 Indiana (Big Ten) |
|
No. 11 New Mexico (Mountain West) |
No. 11 Oklahoma (SEC) |
|
No. 12 San Diego State (Mountain West) |
No. 12 Cincinnati (Big 12) |
|
No. 12 Tulsa (American) |
No. 12 Seton Hall (Big East) |
|
No. 15 Wright State (Horizon) |
No. 15 Kennesaw State (CUSA) |
|
No. 15 Tennessee State (OVC) |
No. 15 Idaho (Big Sky) |
|
No. 16 Furman (Southern) |
No. 16 Queens (ASun) |
|
No. 16 Siena (MAAC) |
No. 16 LIU (NEC) |
|
No. 16 Howard (MEAC) |
No. 16 UMBC (America East) |
|
No. 16 Lehigh (Patriot) |
No. 16 Prairie View A&M (SWAC) |
The power conferences started the push for a bigger field for the association’s crown jewel event and money maker more than a year ago. There really is no opposition to expansion among Division I membership, and NCAA president Charlie Baker has been a vocal advocate for it.
The only obstacles have been working out logistics and figuring out a way to pay for staging more games and transporting more teams around the country. The NCAA still has six years left on a television rights deal with CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery that pays more than $900 million annually.
The networks are not on the hook to pay for more games, but the NCAA and its partners have been exploring ways to unlock more revenue through sponsorships and advertising sales.
Expansion would only be approved if additional costs can be covered without any loss of revenue that the NCAA distributes to the 32 Division I conferences.
This expansion would be the largest for the men’s tournament since 1985, when the field grew from 53 teams to 64. Since then, the tournament’s popularity has soared on the back of its iconic bracket.
In 2011 the men’s field grew to 68 and the First Four was created, which put two games each on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The women’s tournament added a First Four in 2022.
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Sports
England: Do Three Lions have a problem against top-10 teams?
England’s all-time top scorer Kane, with 85 goals, was asked which missing ingredient was needed to get them over the line.
“I think it’s just in those biggest moments, still being ourselves,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“The Argentina game was so hard to take, because we had a mindset of going to win the tournament, win in our way and our style, and if we lose trying to do that then we will take that.
“The Argentina game was maybe the first game we tried ‘not to lose’ in the last 30 minutes and then we ended up losing anyway.”
Kane has scored 152 goals in 154 games for Bayern, winning two Bundesliga titles.
“I have experienced it at Bayern Munich for example, you don’t fear anyone,” the 33-year-old said.
“You go and be yourself, if a team beats you, shake their hand after and say well done.
“You have an identity that you keep throughout.
“I think with England now that is where we need to look.
“We are very close, we have been very close but ultimately, we don’t need to fear anyone.
“We just need to be ourselves in the biggest moments and hopefully get over the line.”
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Sports
Nations League: ‘Brilliant’ Charles brothers lead Northern Ireland to landmark win over Georgia
The Fulham midfielder felt he should have scored “a couple more” before his late strike, but this was another commanding performance in the middle of the park from the 22-year-old.
More and more used to the big stage, he has already faced Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea since his summer switch from Southampton to Craven Cottage.
The Manchester City youth product believes coming up against the likes of Rodri, Sandro Tonali and Christian Eriksen during his international career has eased his transition into the top flight.
“It’s helped me a lot,” Shea said.
“I remember when we played the Spain game [in June 2024], I said these are the kind of people you play against in the Premier League, so it’s all experience.
“I feel really good and I think our team as well is in a really good place. Everyone’s getting a lot of minutes at club level so when we’re coming here we’re only getting stronger every time.”
There will be little rest for the group as, after flying home in the early hours of Saturday morning, they face Hungary at Windsor Park on Monday night in what is the second fixture of this four-game window.
A first game in Belfast since November, and one that will be shown live across the BBC, the older Charles brother is keen to harness the momentum of a rare away win when returning to home soil.
“I think it just sets us up really well for the Hungary game on Monday. This is really exciting and hopefully we can push on,” Shea added.
“Everyone’s buzzing and can’t wait to get back to Belfast and just try and get the win there.”
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Sports
Today on Sky Sports Racing: Eye Of Dubai looks to retain Ripon crown | Racing News
Ripon, Southwell and Belmont Park headline Saturday’s action – live on Sky Sports Racing.
3.28 Ripon – Eye Of Dubai bids for a third win in the race
Eye Of Dubai seeks a third consecutive success in the feature Ripon Cathedral City Of The Dales Handicap.
John and Sean Quinn’s five-year-old returned to winning ways when claiming the Ayr Bronze Cup last weekend and this course specialist must be feared from this 5lb higher mark.
Stalemate Dark Thirty is a noteworthy runner after his excellent third at the Curragh and the handicapper has given him a chance with a 2lb drop in the weights. Jake Dickson takes a further 5lb off, giving this gelded son of Starspangledbanner a real opportunity here.
Trefor is a course and distance winner who is closely matched with Indian Run on their Windsor 1-3 in August and both rate each-way contenders, despite the inconsistent recent efforts of the former.
David O’Meara saddles Yes I’m Mali who scored over this track and trip on his penultimate start and should go well with Conor Whiteley claiming a handy 5lb.
7.00 Southwell – Well-bred pair Pyramid and Kashooda headline
Pyramid and Kashooda contest a potentially informative Free Bets On attheraces.com Maiden Stakes at Southwell.
Juddmonte colt Pyramid caught the eye when runner-up at Wolverhampton on his debut in July, denied a run until the race was over, he stuck on nicely and should improve for that outing. The winner has since finished second in Listed company while the third scored next time so the form looks rock solid.
Kashooda is the main danger for Andrew Balding and Callum Hutchinson. She has placed on both starts to date including when second to a nice type at Kempton and ought to have more to offer.
Others to note include Roxy Power and Pepperazzi, who debuts in the Valmont silks for Oliver Cole.
10.19 Belmont Park – Pride Of Arras and El Cordobes lock horns
A cracking renewal of this Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Stakes sees European raiders El Cordobes and Pride Of Arras headline a field of seven.
Charlie Appleby’s El Cordobes finished third behind stablemate Rebel’s Romance in this race last year before producing a career best to claim the same spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Not seen since down the field in the H.H The Amir Trophy in February, he has claims if fit enough after this break.
Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras took the notable scalp of Gethin when landing the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton and a similar display would give him an obvious chance as he heads up to Grade 1 company again.
Far Bridge took a Grade 3 on his last outing but was behind El Cordobes in this race last season, while the Ed Walker-trained Fort George has claims on the pick of his form.
Best of the rest
The day begins with Grade 1 action from Australia, where Guest House and St Gotthard contest the Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill (7.05am).
Back on home soil, Zarakova tops six runners in Ripon’s 2.16pm Lloyd Landrover Ripon Nursery Handicap. In opposition is Palace Legacy, who steps into handicap company for the first time.
Auteuil’s G3 Prix de Maisons-Laffitte at 2.50pm sees Leopard Du Berlais attempt to get back on track. The four-year-old won his first three starts by a combined 18 lengths but has failed to fire since. A market check could prove important.
Caragio was unlucky not to win the Leger Legends contest at Doncaster earlier this month, when trainer and owner Adam Kirby kicked for home slightly early aboard this son of Caravaggio. Down 1lb for that effort, he will be well-fancied in Southwell’s 8pm At The Races App Expert Tips Handicap.
Stateside, Sunlit Uplands, Esna, Cathedral and Kathynmarissa all line up for the G2 Flower Bowl at Belmont before Santa Anita plays host to the Goodwood Stakes at 12.30am.
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