Villanova to depart Philadelphia's Big 5 as five schools revive round-robin format

Villanova University will no longer take part in Philadelphia's Big 5 college basketball series, and the other five programs plan to keep competing among themselves under a round-robin schedule, FOX 29, CBS Philadelphia and NBC10 reported, citing Associated Press information.

According to the outlets, Villanova's departure becomes effective once the 2026-2027 season concludes, and the five-school format begins the following year. The outlets' headlines, however, frame the exit as happening after this season.

The four original members still in the series are Penn, La Salle, Temple and Saint Joseph's. Drexel, whose addition before the 2023 season expanded the group to six, also stays.

The Big 5 Classic tripleheader is ending as well. Its last installment is set for Dec. 5 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, where the 76ers play, the reports said.

The five continuing schools issued a shared statement saying a steady schedule of home and away games would keep historic rivalries alive and offer scheduling certainty as Division I grows more complicated. They pointed to shifts in the NCAA that have pushed universities to review how sports programs match their broader goals, and said they decided after deliberation to carry on the men's championship format minus Villanova.

CBS Philadelphia separately reported comments from Villanova. The university said it held long conversations with its partners over the past year and weighed multiple approaches. It said the group nearly reached a deal, yet failed to secure agreement from every school on a fresh scheduling plan for 2027.

Villanova said it holds the Big 5's history and tradition in high regard and intends to keep supporting basketball in Philadelphia. The school added that it also has to consider what best positions its own program to succeed in today's college sports landscape, CBS Philadelphia reported.

According to the outlets, the Big 5 was officially founded in 1954, and member schools started playing one another for city bragging rights a year later. Herb Good, a sportswriter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, is credited with coining the name.

The series opened on Dec. 14, 1955, at the Palestra. Saint Joseph's beat Villanova 83-70 that night in front of 2,636 spectators. FOX 29 and NBC10 said the game was 68 years ago, while CBS Philadelphia put it at 70 years ago.

Compiled by True News from reporting by FOX 29 Philadelphia, CBS Philadelphia and NBC10 Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/373