Sports
NCAA Tournament expansion plan gets initial approval
The March Madness logo is pictured during a second-round game in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday March 21, 2026. The Division I committees for both men’s and women’s basketball voted unanimously Thursday to expand both NCAA Tournaments from 68 to 76 teams, multiple outlets reported.
The votes were placed during what was considered an emergency joint meeting of the committees.
The expansion still needs to be approved by the men’s and women’s basketball oversight committees, the Division I cabinet and then the NCAA Board of Governors.
ESPN reported on Wednesday that after expansion talks for more than a year, and contracts with the men’s tournament media partners near completion in late April, the final steps are expected to be smooth.
Multiple outlets reported last month that the NCAA plans for 52 teams to slot into the main bracket and the other 24 teams to face off in 12 games on the Tuesday and Wednesday after Selection Sunday. Those winners will fill out the Round of 64.
Those games will no longer be called the “First Four,” with the terminology expected to be “opening round” for the play-ins and “first round” for the Round of 64.
The 12 games in the expanded opening round are expected to be in Dayton, Ohio, current site of the First Four, and a second site to be determined.
First Four contests in the women’s tournament have been single games at on-campus sites.
It would mark the first expansion of the tournament since the field moved from 65 to 68 teams with the addition of the First Four games in 2011. The field had previously been 64 or 65 teams since 1985.
The Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference were the leading voices behind tournament expansion, Yahoo Sports reported in April. NCAA president Charlie Baker has also voiced his support.
“I said all along that I think there are some very good reasons to expand the tournament,” Baker told ESPN in February. “So, I would like to see it expand.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Norris Trophy finalists: Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Werenski
Apr 16, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was named a Norris Trophy finalist for the sixth consecutive season on Thursday.
A two-time winner of the award (2021-22, 2024-25), Makar is joined by Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and Columbus Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski as finalists.
The award is presented annually to the defenseman voted the best at his position by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. A winner will be announced at a later date.
Makar, 27, totaled 79 points (20 goals, 59 assists) and a plus-32 rating in 75 games this season.
Dahlin, 26, recorded a career-high 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) and a plus-18 rating in 77 games this season. He is a first-time finalist and would be the first member of the Sabres to win the award.
Werenski, 28, is a Norris Trophy finalist for the second straight season. He had 81 points (22 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games in 2025-26.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Vikings request interviews for GM candidates
Aug 26, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler reacts during the game against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Minnesota Vikings reportedly have identified at least two external candidates for their general manager vacancy.
NFL Network reported that the team has requested interviews with assistant general managers Dave Ziegler of the Tennessee Titans and Terrance Gray of the Buffalo Bills.
Vikings vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski has served as the interim GM since the team fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four years on the job.
Ziegler joined the Titans in 2025. He was the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022-23 and worked in New England’s front office from 2013-21, winning three Super Bowls with the Patriots.
Gray has been with the Bills since 2017 and was promoted to assistant GM in May 2025. He worked as a college scout for the Vikings from 2006-16, overlapping with Brzezinski.
–Field Level Media
Sports
IOC lifts restrictions on athletes from Belarus
Jan 19, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; The Olympic rings flag at Centennial Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Athletes from Belarus have been reinstated by the International Olympic Committee Executive board after they were banned from competing under the country’s flag following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The decision, which was announced by the IOC on Thursday, does not pertain to athletes from Russia.
Belarus was suspended by the IOC from sending athletes into international competitions after the country was used as a staging ground for Russian troops before the war against Ukraine began.
“(The IOC) must uphold its mission to preserve a values-based and truly global sporting platform that provides hope to the world,” the organization said in a statement Thursday. “… The IOC reaffirms that athletes’ participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict.”
Belarus was not allowed to have an official Olympic contingent at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
In addition to Olympic competitions, Belarus athletes had been forced to participate as individual neutral athletes at various other international competitions.
The IOC also is expected to come to a decision soon on either ending or extending Russia’s suspension.
“Belarus is in good standing and complies with the Olympic Charter,” the IOC said. “Whilst (Russia) has held constructive exchanges with the IOC on its suspension, it remains suspended while the IOC Legal Affairs Commission continues to review the matter.”
–Field Level Media
Norris Trophy finalists: Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Werenski
Report: Vikings request interviews for GM candidates
