FOX Sports will soon provide an extra postseason destination for teams that don’t make the NCAA Tournament.
This week, the network and its partner, AEG, announced their creation of the College Basketball Crown, a 16-team postseason tournament that will start in 2025.
FOX Sports & AEG launch the COLLEGE BASKETBALL CROWN: a reimagined postseason college hoops tournament
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) April 3, 2024
The showcase features 16 teams across elite conferences - airing on FOX & FS1 in Spring 2025
: https://t.co/O8HUU2sVK4 pic.twitter.com/wO4d5NsgJK
According to FOX Sports’ press release, the 16-team, single-elimination bracket will feature teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East and include other at-large bids. Two teams from each of the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East will receive automatic bids into the tournament, which is positioned to be a competitor to the NIT.
Games will be played from March 31 to April 6, an expedited timeline given the NCAA Tournament and NIT’s multi-week schedules.
“Postseason college basketball is one of the most exciting times of the year, and FOX Sports is proud to be at the forefront of efforts to evolve and elevate the sport,” FOX Sports executive vice president Jordan Bazant said in a statement. “Alongside AEG and the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East, we are thrilled to provide more opportunities for student-athletes to compete in high-quality postseason college hoops and for viewers to enjoy the chase for the College Basketball Crown.”
MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host the tournament. As of now, it is unclear if the new tournament will affect the selection process for the NIT.
“The Big Ten Conference looks forward to competing in the inaugural College Basketball Crown,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said in a statement. “It is sure to be an exciting post-season opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches and fans across the country.”
