NCAA wants to approve drastic change ahead of next college basketball season
By Matt Reed
March Madness games could look different next season if the NCAA has its way, and based on recent comments from the organization those changes could be coming as soon as next season in the men's game.
RELATED: Cooper Flagg's NIL earnings at Duke reached staggering amount
For a long time, women's college basketball has played four quarters in their games just like in professional sports, however, the NCAA is looking to implement that same format in men's college basketball games.
There is "positive momentum" to switch men's college basketball from 20-minute halves to to quarters, the NCAA says.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 11, 2025
Hurdles still remain, including the structure of media timeouts.
According to Front Office Sports, the proposal is receiving "positive momentum" but the one sticking point that is being discussed is how college basketball will adjust its media timeouts and other stoppages.
Traditionally, men's games have had built-in stoppages for commercial breaks, especially during the second half. With many sports like the NFL, NBA and others always looking for opportunities to make money through advertising dollars, college basketball won't be immune to that same pathway as more revenue flows into the sport.
GET MORE TOP STORIES from The Big Lead by subscribing to TBL YouTube channel
CFB: Colorado football coach Deion Sanders dealing with 'unspecified health issue'
MLB: Fox Sports scores massive hit with Red Sox-Yankees telecast
NBA: DeMarcus Cousins nearly fights fans in Puerto Rico, has drinks thrown at him
NFL: Stefon Diggs opens up on conversations with Patriots on viral boat video
SPORTS MEDIA: ESPN announces final College GameDay stop for college football legend Lee Corso