College athletes are compensated, local judges are determining eligibility, the NCAA Tournament doors are widening.
If we’ve learned anything about college sports in the last few years, nothing is sacred.
Name, image and likeness went into effect in the early 2020s, allowing athletes to sign endorsement deals and use their platform to get paid or partner with third-party NIL collectives. Then, in June 2025, the House vs. NCAA settlement allowed schools to hand a portion (up to 22%) of its revenue to athletes. Additional changes have included the transfer portal opening after the NCAA championship, for a 15-day window.
Now, ahead of the 2026-27 season, as college basketball continues to evolve, there are a slew of new alterations to keep track of which will certainly impact outcomes across the sport.
Here are the most significant rule changes.
NCAA Tournament Expansion
Steven Pearl and Auburn were one of the First Four Out teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)
College basketball decided to follow college football and expand its postseason. The last time the NCAA expanded its college basketball tournament was in 2011, when it went from 64 teams to 68, introducing the First Four play-in games in Dayton, Ohio. Now the NCAA is adding eight at-large bids, expanding to a 76-team field with a similar method to that change 15 years ago. The NCAA is adding a 12-game Opening Round featuring 24 teams in place of the First Four.
From there, the format will remain the same: Round of 64, Round of 32, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and national championship game.
Looking at KenPom’s net ratings, these 2025-2026 teams likely would have qualified for a 76-team field on the men’s side:
- Auburn Tigers (22-16)
- Oklahoma Sooners (21-16)
- Cincinnati Bearcats (18-15)
- Indiana Hoosiers (18-14)
- New Mexico Lobos (26-11)
- San Diego State Aztecs (22-11)
- Baylor Bears (17-17)
- Seton Hall Pirates (21-12)
With a new 76-team field, the top major league with the last 500 records sneaks into the NCAA Tournament. A handful of mid-major teams that didn’t win their conference may also be rewarded. Remember, this isn’t just a reward for mediocre teams, since these programs will still have to face each other to be able to play the higher seeds and the fall upsets before March Madness, but it’s weird to see teams in the middle records have a chance to extend their seasons.
In addition to the games, many televised games will be available. This could also result in earlier season nonconference matchups, as these programs might feel more comfortable and have more leeway to run against quality opponents.
Transfer Portal Observations
Dusty May was hired as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks while leading the Michigan Wolverines to the 2026 NCAA title. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Last January, the NCAA moved to open the transfer gates after the NCAA had concluded, hoping to prevent the final four teams from losing players while competing for the championship. That will remain the same in 2026-27. Another change to the transfer window – which we’ve already seen run into this offseason – is the impact on players after a coaching change. When a coaching change is made, in a timely manner, a 15-day NCAA window will open for players on the team to lose the coach. And that window of 15 days will open only five days after the new head coach, interim or official, is announced. If no official coach is announced within 30 days of the previous departure, the portal window of 15 days will open on the 31st. This allows a grace period for the new coach to retain the players.
Here are some recent examples and how the program has been affected;
- Dusty May leaves Michigan: On June 22, the Dallas Mavericks hired former Dusty May. Michigan then promoted assistant Mike Boynton to interim head coach, and then promoted him to official head coach, agreeing to a two-year deal on July 10. A 15-day portal window on July 15th, five days after Boynton’s post became official. Michigan lost one player to that portal — L.J. Cason, who transferred to Miami.
- Dana Altman retired from Oregon: On Oct. 7, 2026, Dana Altman retired from his post as Oregon head coach. The Ducks promoted assistant Tony Stubblefield to interim head coach. A 15-day transfer portal is open, but no Oregon players have entered. With the season starting Monday, Nov. 1, most rosters are set, giving them few options if they wanted to leave.
Age-Based Eligibility Model
Roddy Gayle Jr. He was awarded a TRO and returned to Michigan for the fifth year. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images)
The NCAA model established “eligibility-based” on June 20. The rule allows all college athletes five years of eligibility from the time they enroll in school, or at age 19. Eliminates the use of redshirts.
Of note, the NCAA does not grandfather in players whose eligibility clock has expired after the 2025-26 season. The “eligibility model based on age” does not suit them.
Many of these players eat with him. Partnered with lawyers and law firms, activists are appearing in public courts across the country to fight for the NCAA’s second year of eligibility. Local judges heard arguments from both sides, and mostly gave the player a temporary ban, awarding them another year of eligibility. Appeals for games followed. Some local judges have been obliged to stay on cases, while others have allowed the initial decision to pass. Some players who granted eligibility transferred to new schools, while others returned to their former ones.
But the Games has shown — and continues to show — no sign of implementing the new tough rule to apply to 2026 graduates. Entering certain conversations has created its own boundaries.
But when the season starts, appeals from both sides continue to flood in. Therefore, players who are eligible could lose eligibility, and players who cannot gain eligibility.
See some examples:
- Roddy Gayle Jr. (eligible, returned to Michigan)
- Darrion Williams (eligible, transferred from NC State to Texas Tech)
- RJ Godfrey (ineligible, transferred Clemson to Arizona)