Exciting Changes Coming to the NIT in 2025

INDIANAPOLIS — The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is set to undergo some significant changes starting in 2025, according to the recently announced new qualification procedures. One of the big highlights is that there will now be 16 “exempt” teams that will receive automatic bids to the tournament.

These exempt teams will include the top two squads from both the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference that are not selected for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Additionally, the top team from the other top 12 conferences—determined through the Ken Pomeroy Rating—will also snag an exempt bid for the NIT. This is a change aimed at giving deserving programs a chance to compete on a bigger stage.

The selection of exempt teams will come from a variety of rankings including the ESPN Basketball Power Index (BPI), NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET), and several other performance metrics. Teams that receive an exempt bid will automatically earn the chance to host a first-round matchup.

Moreover, regular-season conference champions that don’t get selected for the NCAA tournament may also qualify for the NIT by meeting specific performance criteria, making the pathway to the tournament smoother for deserving teams.

The rest of the 32-team field will be rounded out by at-large teams picked by the NIT Committee. In an interesting move, the NIT Board has welcomed former college basketball coaches Tubby Smith and Jeff Jones as new committee members, bringing a wealth of experience to the table.

In a further twist, the NIT Board has approved an experimental rule allowing coaches to appeal out-of-bounds calls in the final two minutes of games. This could shake up end-of-game strategies as coaches will have the power to contest calls rather than relying solely on the officials.

The bracket and pairings for the 2025 NIT are scheduled to be revealed on March 16, with first-round games commencing on March 18. The exciting semifinal and championship rounds will return to the renowned Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on April 1 and April 3, respectively.

All games will be aired live on various sports platforms, making it easy for fans to catch the action. For detailed updates, it’s best to stay tuned as this thrilling tournament unfolds.