The Big 12 conference, under the leadership of commissioner Brett Yormark, is showing support for NCAA Tournament expansion. Yormark states that the 16 coaches within the conference are in favor of expanding the tournament field. However, the specifics of how much expansion is needed are still being considered. There have been discussions about expanding the current 68-team bracket to 80 teams, with a 76-team tournament being a popular model among those in the sport.
The recent wave of realignment in college sports, which included changes in conferences and memberships, has led to calls for tournament expansion. Four power conferences – the ACC, SEC, Big 12, and Big Ten – are adding members in 2024, increasing the competition. This has raised concerns about maintaining opportunities for automatic qualifiers from smaller leagues. Conference commissioners, including Yormark, are planning to meet with NCAA president Charlie Baker to further discuss the potential expansion of the tournament.
Yormark emphasizes the importance of maintaining the greatness of the NCAA Tournament while exploring opportunities for modification. He believes that while the tournament is already a great spectacle, there may be chances to provide more access and enhance the experience. Yormark suggests that periodic audits of systems, even successful ones like the NCAA Tournament