NCAA Tournament · 2027 · Planning stage
March Madness 2027
The Big Dance is changing: 76 teams for the first time, a new Opening Round in Dayton and Wichita, and a Final Four under the Ford Field roof in Detroit. This hub goes fully live — scores, bracket and all — when the field is set.
What's new in 2027 — the 76-team bracket
In May 2026 the NCAA approved its first field expansion since 2011, for both the men's and women's tournaments. The math: the 12 lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams now meet in a 12-game Opening Round, and the 12 winners join the classic 64-team bracket. For the men it's played across two host cities — Dayton's storied First Four home, plus Wichita.
Key dates — 2027
| Stage | When | |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | Sun Mar 14, 2027 | |
| Opening Round (men) | Mar 16–17 · Dayton & Wichita | |
| First round | Mar 18–19, 2027 | |
| Second round | Mar 20–21, 2027 | |
| Sweet 16 | Mar 25–26, 2027 | |
| Elite Eight | Mar 27–28, 2027 | |
| Final Four — Ford Field, Detroit | Sat Apr 3, 2027 | |
| National championship | Mon Apr 5, 2027 |
Women's tournament: Opening Round games on top-16-seed campuses Mar 17–18; Final Four at Nationwide Arena, Columbus — semifinals Apr 2, championship Apr 4, 2027.
2026: how it ended
Michigan 69, UConn 63 — April 6, 2026, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. The Wolverines' first title since 1989, with Elliot Cadeau named Most Outstanding Player. On the women's side, UCLA routed South Carolina 79-51 in Phoenix for the program's first NCAA crown. Both champions return to defend inside a bigger, wilder 76-team bracket.
What this hub becomes in March
- Live scores in your timezone — every round, from the Opening Round tip to the final buzzer, tip-off times on your clock.
- The full 76-team bracket — live-updating, round by round, in the same glass-bracket style as our World Cup knockout tracker.
- Countdowns and calendar drops — Selection Sunday and every session, one tap to your calendar.
Bookmark this page — it flips from planning mode to live mode when the bracket drops on March 14, 2027.
Where to watch
Common questions
When is March Madness 2027?
Selection Sunday March 14; Opening Round March 16–17; first/second rounds March 18–21; Sweet 16 March 25–26; Elite Eight March 27–28; Final Four April 3 and championship April 5 at Ford Field, Detroit.
How does the 76-team format work?
24 teams (12 lowest auto-bids + 12 lowest at-larges) play a 12-game Opening Round in Dayton and Wichita; the winners fill out the traditional 64-team bracket. Same expansion applies to the women's tournament, with campus-site Opening Round games.
Who won in 2026?
Men: Michigan, 69-63 over UConn in Indianapolis. Women: UCLA, 79-51 over South Carolina in Phoenix.
More on Matchday
Today's live scores → · College World Series 2027 → · World Cup 2026 archive →