The men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments are expanding to 76 teams, the NCAA announced Thursday.

It is the first time the men's tournament has expanded since 2011, and the first time the women's tournament has expanded since 2022.

"Expanding the Division I men's and women's basketball championships is the right decision for the student-athletes and programs that will now have access to the greatest events in college sports," said Tim Sands, chair of the Division I board of directors and the president at Virginia Tech. "As NCAA leaders, we are especially excited to provide additional, highly competitive games for fans who look forward to March Madness every year."

The expansion from 68 teams to 76 teams marks the men's tournament's largest increase since it moved to 64 teams in 1985. It went from 64 to 65 in 2001 and then added three more teams in 2011 to form the First Four.