NCAA Approves 32-Game College Basketball Season Starting 2026–27

The regular season for college basketball is growing. According to sources who spoke to CBS Sports, the NCAA Division I Council approved an increase from 31 to 32 games on Wednesday, starting with the 2026–2027 season. After the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Oversight Committees approved the adjustment in late March, the vote served as a rubber stamp.

The change follows a 19-year period of a regular season 31-game cap. Since 2006–07, the format has consisted of 28 or 29 scheduled games plus the addition of three-game or two-game multi-team events, for a total of 31 games. Starting in 2026, teams will only have the option to play 32 games rather than being forced to, however most are anticipated to increase their quota by one.

The expansion will also push teams that advance to the NCAA championship game to compete in up to 41 games.

The decision to increase to 32 was primarily motivated by concerns over multi-team events (MTEs), which had grown more restrictive with regard to NCAA regulations as a result of conference expansion, which resulted in schools from the same leagues participating in the same tournaments. Previously prohibited, that is now permitted through a waiver. Additionally, a number of schools were occasionally unable to overcome the challenges of nonconference scheduling due to three-game MTEs.

All games will be included in the 32-game cap, so matches against opponents that are not in Division I will also count. This modification would also enable the scheduling of three- or four-game MTEs for major in-season tournaments, such as the NIL-incentivized Players Era Festival. In November of this year, Players Era will be held again with 18 teams, with plans to grow to a 32-team mega event in 2026.

By going to a 32-game paradigm, the extra game will increase flexibility for programs to plan as needed and maybe lead to more high-profile regular-season contests. Furthermore, as shown by Duke’s February matchup with Illinois this year and February 2026 matchup with Michigan, the extra game should allow more teams to resume nonconference chances in January or February.

A number of high-major coaches have expressed to CBS Sports in recent months that they are actively seeking and hoping to play a nonconference game during the conference season going ahead in order to get benefits before the March postseason.