The NCAA decided to maintain 34 at - large bids with the winner playing against a # 1 seed in the first round .
Bids necessitated a play - in game between the # 64 and # 65 ranked teams .
The NCAA decided to maintain 34 at - large bids , which necessitated a play - in game between the # 64 and # 65 ranked teams , with the winner playing against a # 1 seed in the first round .