Villanova to Leave Philadelphia Big 5 Basketball
The program will conclude its historic tenure in the local alliance following the 2026-27 season.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Basketball
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Villanova will depart the Philadelphia Big 5 basketball affiliation after the 2026-27 season concludes. Drexel will remain as part of the group when the alliance transitions to a new round-robin format in 2027-28.
Why it matters
The shift reflects a broader trend of institutions reevaluating their athletic programs against changing priorities in the modern NCAA landscape. This move marks a significant structural change for the 70-year-old local basketball tradition.
The Philadelphia Big 5 features five Division I programs within a 10-mile radius, a structure that has persisted for more than 70 years. The upcoming round-robin schedule will include home and away contests among the remaining participating schools.
The players
Villanova
Villanova University is a private research university located in Pennsylvania known for its successful men's basketball program.
Drexel
Drexel University is a comprehensive research university based in Philadelphia that joined the Big 5 in 2023.
Temple
Temple University is a major public research institution in Philadelphia that serves as a founding member of the Big 5.
La Salle
La Salle University is a private Catholic institution in Philadelphia that participates in the city's basketball tradition.
Penn
The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League institution in Philadelphia that has been a member of the Big 5 for decades.
The details
Temple, La Salle, Penn, and Saint Joseph's will continue their participation in the Big 5 following Villanova's exit. The remaining teams will shift their schedule to a round-robin format beginning with the 2027-28 season to maintain the local rivalry tradition.
Timeline
Drexel joined the Big 5 alliance in 2023.
Villanova will play its final Big 5 games through the 2026-27 season.
The final Big 5 Classic featuring Villanova is scheduled for December 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The new round-robin format will launch with the 2027-28 season.
Season Trajectory
This transition marks a departure from the 70-year history of the Philadelphia Big 5 alliance. The move forces a permanent alteration to the city's competitive basketball landscape by shifting the long-standing affiliation toward a new round-robin model.
The transition ensures that the remaining five programs will participate in a home-and-away round-robin schedule starting in 2027. Fans can expect a more frequent rotation of local matchups as the alliance moves away from the previous tournament format.
The takeaway
The end of Villanova's tenure in the Big 5 signals a major turning point for Philadelphia's collegiate basketball culture. Residents and fans should prepare for a revised schedule that favors a more traditional round-robin setup over the recent tournament-based format.
Further reading
For additional context on the local sports scene, visit Philadelphia Basketball.
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