The 2027 NCAA DI basketball tournaments for both the men and women will look different from recent tournaments.
Starting with the 2026-27 college basketball season, the fields for the March Madness men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will expand from 68 to 76 teams.
We don’t have specifics on game times and networks, but here’s what we know.
What’s new for 2027
There will be 76 teams in the tournament, up from 68
There will be 12 games before the 64-team bracket. Previously, in the First Four, there were eight teams playing four games
How the opening round will work
There will be 24 teams matching up in 12 games, played over two days before the first round — six games each day. On the men’s side, games will be Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17. In the women’s tournament, the games will be on Wednesday, March 17 and Thursday, March 18. The 12 men’s games will be played in Dayton, Ohio and a second site to be announced later. The 12 women’s games will be held at 12 campus sites.
How the opening round format will work
The 24 teams will be broken down as following:
12 lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers
12 lowest-seeded at-large selections
After the opening round, the field of 64 will be set and will operate as a single-elimination tournament through the national title game.
There will be no crossover matchups, meaning AQs will play AQs and at-large teams will play at-large teams.
2027 NCAA men’s basketball tournament schedule
Selection Sunday
Opening round
Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17
Dayton, Ohio and a second site to be announced
First round
Thursday, March 18 and Friday, March 19
Charlotte, North Carolina
Fort Worth, Texas
Louisville, Kentucky
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Omaha, Nebraska
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Sacramento, California
Spokane, Washington
Second round
Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21
Charlotte, North Carolina
Fort Worth, Texas
Louisville, Kentucky
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Omaha, Nebraska
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Sacramento, California
Spokane, Washington
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26
South Regional (San Antonio, Texas)
West Regional (Los Angeles, California)
Midwest Regional (Kansas City, Missouri)
East Regional (New York, New York)
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28
South Regional (San Antonio, Texas)
West Regional (Los Angeles, California)
Midwest Regional (Kansas City, Missouri)
East Regional (New York, New York)
Final Four
Saturday, April 3
Ford Field (Detroit, Michigan)
National Championship Game
Monday, April 5
Ford Field (Detroit, Michigan)
2027 NCAA women’s basketball tournament schedule
Opening round
Wednesday, March 17 and Thursday, March 18
First round
Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20
Second round
Sunday, March 21 and Monday, March 22
Sweet 16
Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Las Vegas, Nevada
Elite Eight
Sunday, March 28 and Monday, March 29
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Las Vegas, Nevada
Final Four
Friday, April 2
Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)
National Championship Game
Sunday, April 4
Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)
