Philadelphia’s Big 5 basketball rivalry will move on without Villanova following the 2026-27 season.
Fellow founding members Penn, La Salle, Temple and Saint Joseph’s will continue a series that started seven decades ago.
Drexel was added as a sixth member ahead of the 2023-24 season and will take Villanova’s vacated slot.
The Big 5 will return to a round-robin schedule in 2027-28, the format that was in place from 1955 to 2023.
“The resumption of a consistent round-robin format, featuring both home and away contests, will sustain traditional rivalries while providing valuable scheduling stability in an increasingly complex Division I environment,” the five remaining schools said in a joint statement.
“In recent years, the evolving NCAA landscape has prompted institutions to evaluate how their athletics programs align with broader institutional priorities. Following thoughtful discussions and consideration of the interests and goals of all involved, the decision was made to move forward with the Men’s Philadelphia Big 5 championship format without Villanova’s participation.”
This year will mark the final version of the Big 5 Classic, a tripleheader scheduled for Dec. 5 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Villanova is the defending champion and leads the way with 30 Big 5 titles, including 18 outright. Temple ranks second with 28.
–Field Level Media
