NIT Announces Changes for 2025 Tournament

The NCAA has unveiled a new selection process for the 2025 National Invitation Tournament (NIT), allocating 16 'exempt' bids to teams that meet specific criteria. This change is part of a response to the emergence of the College Basketball Crown, a new postseason tournament set to launch by Fox Sports in the 2024-25 season. Under the new rules, the top two teams not selected from the NCAA Tournament in the ACC and SEC will receive automatic bids, alongside the top team from the 12 highest-rated conferences based on various ranking systems. All exempt teams will have the opportunity to host first-round games, while regular-season champions not selected for the NCAA Tournament can also secure NIT bids if they maintain a ranking above 125. The NIT Committee will also include former coaches Tubby Smith and Jeff Jones, further enhancing its selection expertise. The changes aim to solidify the NIT's position in a shifting college basketball landscape.