Auburn Among Teams Who Would Have Been in Expanded NCAA Tournament

May 20, 2026 Michael Brauner AU BASKETBALL, Auburn, Featured News
ATHENS, GA - JANUARY 03: Head coach Steven Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts to action on the court during the college basketball game between the Auburn Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 03, 2026, at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, GA. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire)

The NCAA announced officially last week that the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments were being expanded from 68 to 76 teams, adding additional play in games and giving more teams the opportunity to make the field.

The move — like just about every other change in college sports in recent years — is deeply unpopular with fans. While not many wanted expansion, it is interesting to take a look at the teams who would have had a different fate a year from now.

Chief among them is the Auburn Tigers, who played one of the toughest schedules in college basketball, but ultimately played their worst down the stretch to be left out of the field.

Notably, the SEC would have had two additional teams in Auburn and Oklahoma, likely being joined by others including Cincinnati, Seton Hall, Indiana, New Mexico, San Diego State and Stanford.

After the SEC shattered the record two years ago for most tournament teams in one field, perhaps they are going to be able to set a new mark over the coming seasons to put them even further clear as the best conference in college basketball.

As for the Tigers and Steven Pearl, the pressure was already going to be on in year two, but now it will be even more paramount to take Auburn back into the big dance with an even greater margin for error.