Photo by Kasey Shamis | The TriangleCollege basketball season is just around the corner! On Sept. 22, 2026, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams revealed their Big 5 Classic schedules for the 2026-27 season. The Big 5 tournament celebrates a long tradition between Philadelphia’s finest basketball teams. The Big 5 is not actually five: it’s six, with Drexel University’s men’s team joining during the 2023-24 season. This year, Drexel’s basketball teams are marking several milestones for Philadelphia college basketball.

Within tournament play, teams are split into two pods with three teams. For both the men’s and women’s brackets, Pod 1 is comprised of Drexel University, Saint Joseph’s University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Pod 2 includes Temple University, LaSalle University, and Villanova University.

Women’s basketball

Drexel’s women’s team announced their Big 5 schedule along with a new roster of freshmen and transfers. For the third consecutive year, Drexel is looking to win the tournament for the first time.

Drexel is set to play the Quakers for their second game of the season on Friday, Nov. 6 at Penn. The Dragons will return home on Sunday, Nov. 15 to face off against Saint Joseph’s.

This year, the Big 5 Classic championship game will be held at the Palestra, the basketball arena located on Penn’s campus. The Palestra is widely known for being “the Cathedral of College Basketball” and is one of the most recognizable basketball arenas in the country.

The Palestra will celebrate its 100th anniversary by hosting a tripleheader on Sunday, Dec. 6. The first seed of each pod will play one another for the championship, while the two second seed teams compete for third and fourth place. The third seeds will play for fifth and sixth place.

Men’s basketball

Drexel men’s basketball team also announced their participation for the fourth year in a row. The team has yet to finish better than fifth place in the tournament. Drexel will look to start off strong in their first Big 5 pod game of the season at the DAC on Friday, Nov. 20, where the Dragons will face off against the Saint Joseph’s University Hawks. Just a few days later on Tuesday, Nov. 24, Drexel travels down 33rd Street to take on long-time rival, the University of Pennsylvania Quakers.

Just like the Big 5 last year, a tripleheader will take place at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. Tickets are free to students of the Philadelphia schools, and based on fan interest, shuttle transportation may be available to Drexel students.

The Big 5 schedule for the 2026-27 season:

Women’s schedule

Friday, Nov. 6  – Drexel vs. Penn at The Palestra

Wednesday, Nov. 11 (Pod 2) – Temple vs. LaSalle at Tom Gola Arena

Sunday, Nov. 15 (Pod 1) – Saint Joseph’s vs. Drexel at Daskalakis Athletic Center

Wednesday, Nov. 18 (Pod 1) – Penn vs. Saint Joseph’s at Michael J. Hagan Arena

Tuesday, Nov. 24 (Pod 2) – LaSalle vs. Villanova at Finneran Pavilion

Tuesday, Dec. 1st (Pod 2) –  Villanova vs. Temple at Liacouras Center

Men’s schedule

Wednesday, Nov. 11 (Pod 2) – La Salle vs. Villanova at Finneran Pavilion

Saturday, Nov. 14 (Pod 1) – Penn vs. Saint Joseph’s at Michael J. Hagan Arena

Sunday, Nov. 15 (Pod 2) – Temple vs. La Salle at Tom Gola Arena

Friday, Nov. 20 (Pod 1) – Saint Joseph’s vs. Drexel at Daskalakis Athletic Center

Tuesday, Nov. 24 (Pod 1) – Drexel vs. Penn at The Palestra

Tuesday, Dec. 1 (Pod 2) – Villanova vs. Temple at Liacouras Center