Villanova Reportedly Set to Exit Philadelphia's Big 5 After Dispute Over New Format

Villanova will be exiting the Big 5 Classic following the 2026-27 season, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff Neiburg.

"While it's possible that a Big 5 Classic remains intact with an annual tripleheader, the current format will be no longer after Villanova was not interested in keeping with the status quo, according to sources," Neiburg reported Thursday. "A different setup that Villanova was into — one that would all but guarantee the Wildcats to not have to play another Big 5 road game — could not be agreed upon by all six schools."

The Big 5 Classic traditionally brings together the biggest basketball schools in Philadelphia: Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Villanova.

Neiburg first reported last December that "financial concerns" might reshape the annual event moving forward. For Villanova in particular, there's a question of whether the venture is ultimately worth it.

"When you play 20 conference games, playing an A-10 road game every year is really difficult," coach Kevin Willard said. "You're also taking away a home game when revenue has become extremely important."

Other market factors might be hurting the Big 5 Classic.

Villanova is head and shoulders better than its Philly brethren, and younger fans won't have a recollection of a time when the other five were regularly making the NCAA tournament.

La Salle couldn't even draw a sellout for its matchup with the Wildcats last season, with 2,653 fans on hand for the occasion.

A lot of traditions are falling by the wayside in college basketball and football thanks to conference realignment, scheduling/revenue concerns and an increased emphasis on the postseason.

The Big 5 Classic isn't immune from all of that, and there may come a time when the shared connection between the Philly Big 5 becomes a remnant of the past.