If you aren't from Philadelphia, you probably think college basketball starts and ends with the bracket in March. But if you’re standing on Lancaster Avenue, smack in the middle of the 6 miles that separate Hawk Hill from the Main Line, you know better. The Saint Joseph's vs Villanova rivalry—better known to anyone with a pulse in this city as the Holy War—is different. It’s not just a game. It’s a referendum on identity.
You’ve got the Jesuits at St. Joe’s and the Augustinians at Villanova. It's a clash of neighborhoods, a clash of hoops philosophies, and honestly, a clash of egos.
I was looking at the recent history, and man, things have shifted. For a long while, it felt like Villanova was just operating on a different planet. Under Jay Wright, they were winning national titles and treating the Big 5 like a formality. But lately? The temperature has changed. The "underdog" Hawks have started biting back, and the 2024-25 season gave us a massive reminder that in Philly, rankings are basically just paper.
The Night the Hawks Reclaimed the Hill
On November 12, 2024, the atmosphere at Hagan Arena was borderline feral. You could feel the floorboards vibrating before tip-off. Most "experts" figured Villanova would handle business, even with the program in a bit of a transition period under Kyle Neptune.
St. Joe's had other plans. They didn't just win; they controlled the narrative. Rasheer Fleming was a man possessed, putting up 19 points and basically living in the paint. Villanova’s Eric Dixon did his usual heavy lifting with 24 points, but the Wildcats looked out of sync. They turned the ball over 16 times. You can't do that in a house as loud as Hagan and expect to survive.
The Hawks walked away with an 83-76 victory. It was their first home win against Nova since 2011. Imagine that—thirteen years of waiting. When the fans stormed the court, it wasn't just because they beat a rival. It was because they proved the gap had closed.
Breaking Down the All-Time Numbers
Look, if we’re being real, the historical ledger is still tilted toward the Main Line. Entering 2026, Villanova leads the all-time series 54-28. But that doesn't tell the whole story.
- The Early Days: Villanova dominated the 1920s, winning 11 of the first 12 meetings.
- The Big 5 Birth: When the Big 5 was formed in 1955, the Hawks turned the tide, winning the first six "City Series" matchups.
- The Recent Drought: Before this current spark, St. Joe's suffered through an 11-game losing streak to the Wildcats from 2012 to 2022.
The average score across the entire history of the rivalry is surprisingly close, usually hovering around a 7-to-10 point margin. It’s rarely a blowout, even when one team is significantly "better" on paper.
Why Do They Call It the Holy War?
It’s a funny name for a basketball game, right? But the religious roots are legitimate.
Saint Joseph’s is a Jesuit institution. Villanova is Augustinian. In the mid-20th century, these were the two biggest Catholic powerhouses in the region. The "Holy War" moniker started as a tongue-in-cheek media tag in the 1960s, but it stuck because the fans treated it like a crusade.
Back in the day, they used to play these games at the Palestra. If you’ve never been, it’s the "Cathedral of College Basketball." The seating was split exactly 50/50. Half the gym was screaming red, the other half screaming blue. There is no home-court advantage at the Palestra; there is only survival.
✨ Don't miss: Chelsea FC vs. Manchester City: Why This Rivalry Still Matters in 2026
While the games have moved to on-campus sites like Hagan Arena and the Finneran Pavilion more often lately, the vitriol remains. You still see the "Roll Berries" shirts and the "The Hawk Will Never Die" chants clashing in the parking lots.
The New Era: 2025 and 2026
We're seeing a weirdly fascinating period for both programs right now.
Villanova has been trying to find its soul again after the Jay Wright era. It's tough. You go from being the gold standard of college basketball to a team that’s fighting for its life in the Big East. Meanwhile, Billy Lange has been slowly, methodically rebuilding the Hawks into a group that plays fast and isn't scared of anyone.
In December 2025, the rivalry took a different turn in the Big 5 Classic. While the men’s side is always the headline, the women’s programs played a classic. Villanova pulled out a 76-70 win to take the Big 5 title, led by Brynn McCurry’s 21 points. It reminded everyone that the "Holy War" isn't just about the guys; the intensity carries across every jersey that says "Saint Joseph's" or "Villanova."
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
People outside of Philly think this is just another local rivalry like Duke vs. UNC or Kentucky vs. Louisville. It isn’t.
Those rivalries are about being the best in the country. Saint Joseph's vs Villanova is about being the best on the block.
It's about the guy at the deli who went to St. Joe's arguing with his brother-in-law who went to Villanova. It's about the "Big 5" culture where these schools—including Temple, Penn, La Salle, and now Drexel—all beat up on each other and then root for whoever makes the NCAA Tournament.
The biggest misconception? That Villanova "doesn't care" as much because they've had more national success. Talk to any Nova alum after a loss to the Hawks. They are miserable. There is a specific kind of sting that comes from losing to a school that’s a 15-minute drive away.
Key Tactical Differences Today
- St. Joe’s Pace: They want to run. They want to shoot the lights out. If they get hot from three, they are a nightmare to cover because they play with a "nothing to lose" swagger.
- Villanova’s Physicality: Historically, Nova wins by being the "bigger" program—more recruits, more resources, and a very disciplined defensive system. But when that discipline slips, the Hawks pounce.
- The Transfer Portal: This has leveled the playing field. You see guys like Jhamir Brickus or Wooga Poplar moving around, and it changes the chemistry of these games every single year. You can't rely on four-year scouting reports anymore.
How to Watch the Next Chapter
If you're planning on catching the next Saint Joseph's vs Villanova game, don't expect to just walk up and buy a ticket at the window.
📖 Related: Chicago State vs Texas: What Really Happened at the Moody Center
- Tickets: If the game is at Hagan Arena, it will sell out. Get on the secondary markets early or find a friend with season tickets.
- The Venue Matters: A game at the Finneran Pavilion (Nova’s home) feels corporate and polished. A game at Hagan (St. Joe’s) feels like a high school gym on steroids—loud, cramped, and intimidating.
- The Big 5 Classic: Keep an eye on the new format at the end of the year at the Wells Fargo Center. It’s a triple-header that brings the whole city together.
Honestly, the best way to experience this is to find a bar on City Avenue. Half the crowd will be wearing Hawk wings, the other half will be doing the "V" for victory.
The Holy War isn't going anywhere. Even as conferences change and the NIL era rewrites the rules of college sports, this game remains a constant. It’s a reminder of what basketball used to be: local, loud, and incredibly personal.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to dive deeper into the current standings, check the updated Big 5 Pod schedules. The 2025-26 season has rearranged how these teams qualify for the championship triple-header, so every mid-week game counts more than it used to. Scout the rosters for the upcoming February stretch—pay close attention to the injury reports for the Hawks' backcourt, as their depth has been the deciding factor in these high-possession rivalry games lately.