NIT Declares Itself a Mid-Major as Power Programs Bypass
The NIT field is down to just four power-conference entrants (Auburn, California, Wake Forest, Oklahoma State), cementing its status as a mid-major tournament. The decline is tied to Fox’s College Basketball Crown, which has reduced and drew teams away, while several power programs (Virginia Tech, Indiana, Florida State, Oklahoma) opted out. ESPN networks largely carry the remaining power teams, and the NIT will be aired on ESPN. The piece laments the tournament’s loss of prestige, blaming factors such as the transfer portal, NIL, coaching churn, and Fox’s Crown for its diminished relevance.