In the United States, the NCAA Tournament has become highly competitive, particularly among Power 5 conferences such as the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, and Big 12. Over the past two years, for the first time in the 21st century, not a single team from mid-major conferences has advanced to the Sweet 16. This trend raises concerns about the diminishing role of traditional underdog teams, often referred to as 'Cinderella' stories, like those witnessed previously from schools such as Butler, Wichita State, and Florida Atlantic. Mid-major conferences are finding it increasingly difficult to compete due to the financial advantages that power conference teams possess, which allows them to attract and retain talent more effectively than their mid-major counterparts. The financial landscape of college sports has shifted dramatically with the advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which create a competitive imbalance. Power conference schools can leverage their wealth to recruit top-tier talent, leaving mid-major programs at a disadvantage. As the NCAA allows players to transfer freely, often without sitting out a season, power teams can bolster their rosters by selecting outstanding players from mid-major schools, further weakening those programs. For example, the American Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), once respected for their competitive teams, have seen significant declines in their strength ratings over recent years. Historical performances in the NCAA Tournament affirm the impact of this shift. Teams like the Florida Atlantic Owls recently made headlines by reaching the Final Four, but the overall trend is troubling. Prior to these two years, it was common to see at least two mid-major teams make it to the Sweet 16 or beyond. This change has sparked discussions among coaches and analysts regarding the future of parity in college basketball. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd emphasized that financial disparities could reach a breaking point for lesser-known programs, leading to a potential extinction of viable mid-major competitors in the tournament. Despite the absence of typical underdog success stories, the NCAA Tournament initially maintained respectable viewership numbers, suggesting that fans are still engaged. The first full day of 64 games had an average of 9.8 million viewers, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. However, analysts question whether the thrill associated with shocking upsets is fading away as the dominance of power conferences continues to establish a formidable barrier for mid-major teams. The next few tournament cycles will determine if this trend represents a new norm in college basketball or if mid-major teams can regain their footing.