Philadelphia — The historic Philadelphia Big 5 basketball series is undergoing a major transformation as Villanova confirms it will withdraw following the 2026‑27 season. The move will shrink the competition from six to five teams, and the traditional Big 5 Classic tripleheader will conclude after this season’s Dec. 5 game at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Founding members Penn, La Salle, Temple and Saint Joseph’s will remain in the series, along with Drexel, which joined the Big 5 in 2023. Beginning next season, the five schools will adopt a consistent round‑robin format that includes both home and away contests. According to the institutions, the new structure will preserve long‑standing rivalries while delivering the scheduling stability needed in today’s complex Division I environment.
In a joint statement, the five schools explained that “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.”
The original Big 5, a name coined by Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter Herb Good, was formally established in 1954. The schools began round‑robin “City Series” play in 1955, with the inaugural game taking place on Dec. 14, 1955, when Saint Joseph’s defeated Villanova 83‑70 before 2,636 fans at the Palestra.
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