Villanova Leaves Big 5 After 2026-27 Season — SkimNews
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- Villanova will exit the Big 5 men's basketball series at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, marking the end of its participation in the historic Philadelphia round-robin format.
- The Big 5 will continue with a five-team round-robin structure starting in the 2024-25 season, including home and away games, after Villanova's departure.
- The Big 5 Classic tripleheader event will be discontinued after its December 5, 2024, edition at the Xfinity Live! Arena, the home of the 76ers.
- Penn, La Salle, Temple, Saint Joseph's, and Drexel will remain in the restructured Big 5, maintaining the series with consistent scheduling and traditional rivalries.
- The five remaining schools jointly stated that evolving NCAA conditions prompted a reassessment of athletic alignment with institutional priorities, leading to the new format without Villanova.
- The Big 5 was founded in 1954 with round-robin play beginning in 1955, and its first game was Saint Joseph's defeating Villanova 83-70 on December 14, 1955.
Why it matters: Villanova’s exit shifts the balance of a 70-year-old tradition, reducing the series to five teams and ending neutral-site events, which alters scheduling, fan experience, and the competitive footprint of one of college basketball’s oldest city-based rivalries.
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