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Power Conferences Eye Overhaul of March Madness and College Football Playoff
The NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff could become two arms of the same corporate entity by the 2030s
Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:56pm
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The power conferences' push to reshape the NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff could lead to a radical restructuring of college sports' marquee postseason events.Auburn TodayThe NCAA Tournament is expected to expand to 76 teams, with the additional bids largely going to power conference schools. This has led to speculation that the major conferences may seek to break away and restructure the postseason events, potentially leveraging the existing College Basketball Crown tournament as a vehicle to do so.
Why it matters
The power conferences, frustrated with NCAA policies and revenue distribution models, see an opportunity to overhaul the postseason when the media rights deals for the NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff expire in 2032. This could allow them to determine the participating conferences, field sizes, and formats, potentially creating a new LLC to operate the events.
The details
The NCAA Tournament is expected to expand to 76 teams, with the additional bids largely going to power conference schools. This leaves many quality mid-major programs out of the field. The College Basketball Crown, co-owned by Fox and AEG, could serve as a framework for the power conferences to restructure the postseason, as it operates outside of NCAA jurisdiction. The power conferences are seeking more control and a larger share of the revenue generated by the marquee events.
- The NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff media rights deals expire in the spring of 2032.
- The College Basketball Crown featured just eight teams from the power conferences in the 2025-26 season.
The players
Fox
A co-founder of the College Basketball Crown tournament, with close ties to the Big East, Big 12, and Big Ten through media rights deals.
Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)
A co-founder of the College Basketball Crown tournament, providing operational expertise.
Big Ten
One of the power conferences seeking more control and a larger share of revenue from the NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff.
SEC
One of the power conferences seeking more control and a larger share of revenue from the NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff.
George Kliavkoff
The former Pac-12 commissioner, whose leadership was criticized for the conference's demise.
What they’re saying
“Everything about the postseason remains in flux, although clarity should come later this month. Barring an unforeseen development, the NCAA Tournament will expand to 76 teams (men and women) for next season.”
— Jon Wilner, Sports Columnist
“The power conferences are increasingly frustrated with NCAA policies and revenue distribution models in both football and basketball. That's not an unreasonable view: They are responsible for a much greater percentage of the revenue than they receive within the heavily subsidized college sports food chain.”
— Jon Wilner, Sports Columnist
What’s next
The power conferences will likely continue to push for more control and a larger share of revenue from the NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff as the 2032 expiration of the media rights deals approaches. The future of the College Basketball Crown tournament will be an important factor to watch as the power conferences explore their options.
The takeaway
The potential restructuring of the NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff by the power conferences highlights the shifting power dynamics in college sports. The desire for greater control and revenue could lead to significant changes in the postseason landscape, with the College Basketball Crown serving as a potential blueprint for a new model.
