Villanova University will not participate in the current men’s Philadelphia Big 5 basketball format after the 2026-27 season, ending a three-year agreement that split six city teams into pods to determine seeding for the Big 5 Classic. The five remaining schools will continue the 70-plus-year-old tradition using a round-robin format, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Five Philadelphia schools renew round-robin commitment
The remaining five institutions announced in a joint statement that they are united in their commitment to preserving the history of the Big 5. The schools stated that the round-robin format renews the competitive spirit that has defined the city's college basketball history for more than 70 years.
While the championship format will diverge, sources indicate all six schools are still discussing the possibility of maintaining a one-day Big 5 Classic tripleheader in the future. The men’s event is scheduled for Dec. 5 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Revenue gaps and scheduling conflicts drive Villanova exit
Villanova’s decision stems from the financial and scheduling burdens of the current structure. Under the 2023 agreement, which added Drexel to the group, Villanova faced two lost home game opportunities: an automatic road game during pod play and the Big 5 Classic itself, where ticket revenue is split seven ways between the six schools and the venue.
Kevin Willard, who took over the Villanova program, told The Inquirer in June 2025 that playing an Atlantic 10 road game every year is difficult when the team already plays 20 conference games. “You’re also taking away a home game when revenue has become extremely important,” Willard said.
The financial disparity between the programs has widened as Villanova remains the only Big 5 school in a power conference with a major television deal. This gap makes the loss of home gates at the 6,500-seat Finneran Pavilion more significant for the Wildcats than for their local counterparts.
Declining attendance at Xfinity Mobile Arena
The move comes amid a sharp drop in fan interest for the neutral-site tripleheader. Attendance at Xfinity Mobile Arena fell to 10,361 last year—roughly half the arena’s capacity. This figure represents a significant decline from more than 15,000 attendees in 2023 and more than 14,000 in 2024.
The attendance dip has reignited calls from some fans to return the event to the 8,700-seat Palestra.
Big 5 competition benchmarks
| Metric | Villanova (Power Conference) | Other Big 5 Schools (Mid-Major) |
|---|---|---|
| Road Games vs. Mid-Majors | Nearly extinct in Big East | Standard round-robin format |
| Revenue Model | Major TV deal / High home gate | Shared event pots / Local gates |
| Recent Performance | Won 3 contests (avg. 20pt margin) | Competing for city championship |
Future of women’s basketball partnership
The split currently affects only the men’s programs. Sources report that the women’s version of the Big 5 competition is expected to include all six schools moving forward, though those arrangements have not been finalized.
Common questions about the Big 5 transition
When does the current format officially end?
The three-year agreement governing the current pod-based format and seeding for the Big 5 Classic will cease to exist after the 2026-27 season.
Why didn’t Villanova agree to a new setup?
Sources state Villanova sought a different arrangement that would effectively guarantee the Wildcats would not have to play another Big 5 road game, but the other five schools could not agree to those terms.
Will the Big 5 Classic still happen?
All six schools are working toward a possibility that the one-day tripleheader continues, even though Villanova will no longer participate in the qualifying round-robin format.
“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.”
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