College football & basketball are expanding, but is more really better for college sports?
Within a matter of months, the college football and basketball worlds are set for sweeping changes. After the AFCA approved future alterations to the College Football Playoff, the NCAA expanded the March Madness tournament field. March Madness will now feature 76 teams.
The expansion creates a more chaotic bracket and introduces a new wave of excitement. MORE: ESPN’s Dick Vitale blasts NCAA for college basketball tournament expansion The same can be said for the College Football Playoff. While an expansion to 24 teams is not yet official, it appears inevitable following the AFCA vote.
But an important question remains: are these expansions really necessary? Mar 27, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; General view of a March Madness sign before a Sweet Sixteen game of the Sacramento Regional 2 of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images There’s no denying the motivation behind them — more games, more television broadcasts, and more revenue.
In the era of NIL and revenue sharing, this outcome always felt inevitable. But will expansion ultimately hurt the college sports product? The initial reaction from many fans is likely, “No way.
This will only add to the excitement. ” MORE: Florida’s leading scorer chooses Gators over NBA draft, will return for senior year Postseason expansion certainly comes with benefits. However, it also carries significant drawbacks.