Yormark says potential expansion of NCAA Tournament to 76 teams is right number
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark put his support behind NCAA Tournament expansion on Tuesday, adding support from one of the best league’s in college basketball toward a movement that could spark change as early as next season.
During a press conference Tuesday ahead of the Big 12 Tournament, Yormark said he wants to see the field of 68 expand to 76.
“I’m in favor of expansion to 76. I think that’s the right number,” the third-year commissioner said. “I think the economics candidly have to work. CBS and TNT have a marquee (television) asset with the tournament. I know they know that. But in order for us to expand, they need to come to the table and provide for the right economics.”
The NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 and added the First Four to the tournament when it expanded to 68 teams in 2011.
In June 2024, the NCAA presented options to conference commissioners to expand from 68 to 72 or 76 teams by adding more “play-in” games involving teams seeded 10 through 12.
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“Expansion, even in a modest level, is complex, more complex than I think has been recognized and reported, because it is expensive,” said NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt in an interview with CBS Sports recently. “There’s no sport that is deeper overall and has more parity than men’s college basketball.
“There’s great basketball played at every level in men’s basketball right now. So I think it’s important to keep the tournament contemporary and relevant, based on what is going on in college athletics.”
Yormark’s support comes as the Big 12 has routinely spent the past decade being one of the premier conferences in the sport -- if not the best. According to ESPN’s latest bracketology, Yormark’s league is expected to get 8 teams into the NCAA Tournament field this season.
If the field expanded to 72 or 76 teams, it could open the door for the league to routinely put 10 teams in the tournament. Yormark, like Gavitt, has said the financials will have to get hammered out if any change is to be made.
“I think there will be some decisions over the next 90 days, 60 days,” he said. “No one wants to be diluted, and we have a great asset here. We’ll see how it plays out.”
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