How Many Division 1 Basketball Teams Are There? (2025)

By Emma Wilson · January 1, 2028

There are currently 358 NCAA Division I men's basketball teams for the 2024–2025 season, representing the highest level of collegiate basketball competition in the United States.

Understanding NCAA Division I Basketball

The NCAA Division I is the top competitive tier in college athletics, governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Men's basketball is one of the most popular sports at this level, drawing millions of fans annually, especially during March Madness — the NCAA Tournament that crowns the national champion.

Division I schools must meet strict NCAA requirements regarding athletic scholarships, scheduling, attendance, and academic performance. These institutions range from large public universities to smaller private colleges, all competing under a unified framework with regional and conference-based structures.

Key Features of Division I Basketball

Must sponsor at least seven men's and seven women's sports (or six if two are team sports)
Required to play a minimum number of games against Division I opponents
Must offer a minimum of 90% of the maximum allowed athletic scholarships for men's basketball
Must average at least 300 in home attendance for men's basketball over a rolling two-year period (with exceptions for newer programs)

Conference Structure and Geographic Distribution

Division I basketball teams are organized into athletic conferences, which schedule regular-season games and host conference tournaments. Winning a conference tournament often guarantees an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Conferences vary significantly in size, competitiveness, and media exposure. Power conferences such as the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Pac-12 (now transitioning after realignment) typically receive more national attention and revenue.

Major Conferences in 2025

Big Ten Conference: Expanded to 18 teams including USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington
SEC: Now includes 16 teams with additions of Oklahoma and Texas
ACC: Remains strong with 15 members; SMU joined in 2024
Big 12: 16 teams after expansion, featuring Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah
Pac-12: Reduced to two members; most former teams moved to other Power conferences

Conference	Number of Teams	Notable Members	Automatic Bid to NCAA Tournament?
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)	15	Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, SMU	Yes
Big Ten Conference	18	Michigan State, Illinois, USC, Oregon	Yes
Big 12 Conference	16	Baylor, Kansas, Arizona, BYU	Yes
Southeastern Conference (SEC)	16	Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas	Yes
Pacific-12 Conference	2	Oregon State, Washington State	Yes
American Athletic Conference	14	Memphis, UAB, Temple, FAU	Yes
Mountain West Conference	11	San Diego State, Boise State, UNLV	Yes
West Coast Conference	10	Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, BYU (through 2025)	Yes
Ivy League	8	Harvard, Princeton, Yale	Yes
Missouri Valley Conference	10	Loyola Chicago, Drake, Bradley	Yes

Table data source:1, 2

The table highlights the distribution of teams across major Division I basketball conferences. The Big Ten now leads in size with 18 teams due to recent expansion westward. Despite the collapse of the Pac-12 as a major power conference, it retains enough membership to maintain its automatic NCAA Tournament bid through agreements between Oregon State and Washington State.

Power conferences dominate national rankings and tournament bids, but mid-major leagues like the Missouri Valley and West Coast Conference consistently produce competitive teams that challenge higher-seeded opponents during March Madness.

Frequently Asked Questions About Division I Basketball Teams

How many Division I basketball teams make the NCAA Tournament?

Each year, 68 Division I men's basketball teams are selected to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Of these, 32 earn automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments, while the remaining 36 receive at-large bids based on performance metrics like NET rankings and strength of schedule.

What qualifies a school as NCAA Division I?

A school must meet NCAA requirements including sponsoring a minimum number of sports, offering athletic scholarships, playing a required number of games against Division I opponents, and meeting attendance benchmarks. Institutions must also comply with academic integrity standards and undergo a multi-year reclassification process if moving up from Division II or III.

Has the number of Division I basketball teams changed recently?

Yes, the total has increased slightly due to conference realignment and reclassification. As of 2025, there are 358 teams, up from 357 in 2023–2024. Notable changes include SMU joining the ACC, and several former Pac-12 schools moving to the Big Ten and Big 12, maintaining overall D-I stability despite major shifts.

Which conference has the most NCAA basketball championships?

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) leads all conferences with 8 NCAA men's basketball championships since 1939, primarily driven by Duke and North Carolina. However, the Big Ten and SEC also have strong historical performances, with Indiana, Michigan State, Kentucky, and Louisville contributing multiple titles.

Can a new school become a Division I basketball program?

Yes, schools can transition to Division I through a formal reclassification process administered by the NCAA. This process takes four years, during which the school must meet financial, facility, scheduling, and scholarship requirements. Recent examples include Queens University of Charlotte and Lindenwood University beginning their transitions in 2022 and 2023.