D3 Management Council recommends expansion of playoff brackets, 1:6 access ratio

[Ron Boerger]

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2024/4/18/media-center-diii-management-council-supports-expanding-football-team-sport-brackets.aspx

The Division III Management Council took action this week to support expanding the football championship bracket from 32 to 40 teams and to change the championship access ratio for all team sports to 1:6.

In addition to the bracket expansion in football, there will also be a single at-large pool for bids, combining the previously used Pools B and C.

Additionally, the council approved the use of the NCAA Power Index for selection of at-large berths to team sports championships. The changes will go into effect starting with 2024 fall championships.

If adopted by the President's Council (which nearly always approves Management Council rcommndations), playoff bracket sizes will change as follows:

Football: 32 --> 40
Baseball:  60 --> 64
Men's ice hockey:  12 --> 14
Women's ice hockey:  11 --> 12
Field hockey: 26 --> 28
Men's lacrosse:  38 --> 40
Women's lacrosse:  46 --> 47
Softball: 62 --> 64
Men's volleyball: 16 --> 19

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

So most sports won't see any change to the number of rounds in their tournament but two sports would be adding an extra round with football having 24 byes and 16 teams playing the opening round as well as mens volleyball having 13 byes and 6 teams playing the opening round. I'm sure it's not that big of a deal to add in the extra volleyball games but football will be interesting to see when they squeeze the extra week in.

[Pat Coleman]

So most sports won't see any change to the number of rounds in their tournament but two sports would be adding an extra round with football having 24 byes and 16 teams playing the opening round as well as mens volleyball having 13 byes and 6 teams playing the opening round. I'm sure it's not that big of a deal to add in the extra volleyball games but football will be interesting to see when they squeeze the extra week in.

The extra week will be put at the end, and almost certainly after the new year.

[DagarmanSpartan]

Wow!

A 40 team playoff in football?

KEWL!!!!

When will anybody know for sure?