Villanova is leaving the Big 5, dealing another blow to a college basketball tradition

Villanova is leaving the Major 5, dealing another blow to a college basketball tradition.

Key points

• Founded in 1954 and coined by Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter Herb Good, the Major 5 is entering its 72nd season of competing.
• In just over a week, Villanova men's basketball will open its 2026-27 season in Rome and in the shadow of Pope Leo against Notre Dame.
• The Wildcats asserted their 30th Sizeable 5 championship – and first in the new format – last season with a 90-63 win against Penn.
• Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's and Temple will remain in the Major 5.
• The 2026-2027 men's college basketball season is upon us.

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For context, the Wildcats will do so entering their final season as a member of the Major 5, the association that comprises the six Division I college basketball programs in Philadelphia.

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It was confirmed Thursday that Villanova will leave the Sizeable 5 beginning with the 2027-28 season, marking the latest blow to one of the great traditions in college athletics since of the rapidly evolving landscape of college sports.

Drexel, La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's and Temple will remain in the Major 5. The Dragons were continued to the Sizeable 5 in 2023, making it a six-team membership and a round-robin format that concluded with a Sizeable 5 Classic tripleheader that crowned a champion.

"These institutions are united in their commitment to preserving the history and enhancing the future of the Philadelphia Major 5. While additionally preserving the future of a partnership that is distinctively Philadelphia, " the five remaining schools stated in a joint statement, the round-robin format represents a renewal of the competitive spirit that has defined the city's college basketball landscape for more than 70 years.

"With five Division I programs located within a 10-mile radius, the schools remain uniquely positioned in collegiate basketball. The resumption of a consistent round-robin format, featuring both home and away contests, will sustain traditional rivalries while providing valuable scheduling stability in an increasingly complex Division I environment."

It's a notable move by Villanova, whose campus is located outside of the Philadelphia radius but have been part of the area's college basketball history for decades, including Rollie Massimino's squad defeating Georgetown in the 1985 national title game and then Jay Wright turning it back into a national powerhouse, highlighted by two championships in three years from 2016 to 2018.

Jeff Neiburg of The Philadelphia Inquirer documented Villanova was not interested in keeping the current format of the Sizeable 5 Classic as the "status quo." Neiburg, citing sources, observed the Wildcats were looking for a format that would "guarantee the Wildcats would not have to play another Big 5 road game, " but that format was not agreed on by all six schools.

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"Villanova University has great respect for the history and tradition of the Big 5, " Villanova remarked in an official note provided to USA TODAY Sports on Thursday afternoon. "Over the past year, we have engaged in lengthy discussions with our Major 5 partners concerning strategies to move forward in the years ahead. Together we explored a number of models and were close to an agreement at one point but could not secure unanimity on a new scheduling format beginning in 2027. Villanova remains committed to supporting Philadelphia basketball. Ultimately, we must additionally balance what is in the best interests of Villanova basketball for success in the modern landscape of college athletics."

For context, the current format of the Major 5 is one home game and one road game for each team before the tripleheader at Xfinity Mobile Arena, the home of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, in December. The Wildcats asserted their 30th Sizeable 5 championship – and first in the new format – last season with a 90-63 win against Penn. It marked the first title under Kevin Willard as well. This person has brought the program back to national prominence after a few down seasons with Kyle Neptune, the successor to Wright.

Founded in 1954 and coined by Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter Herb Good, the Major 5 is entering its 72nd season of competing. The 2026 Major 5 Classic is set for Saturday, Dec. 5 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Villanova, which was picked to finish third in the Major East, is coming off a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament to Utah State. The Wildcats received 14 votes in the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and has two top-25 teams – No. 20 Michigan and No. 18 Kansas – on their non-conference schedule. College basketball reacts to Villanova basketball's Major 5 exit.

Given the news of Villanova's exit from the Major 5, reactions were not favorable to the Wildcats' decision. Here's a snippet of those.

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In short, villanova is leaving the Big 5, dealing another blow to a college is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.