The 2026 version of Anonymous Eagle’s College Hoops Champions League

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Most folks are aware that European Soccer has a league of Champions…the UEFA Champions League. European professional basketball also has a Champions League play system. How about a men’s college basketball Champions League (CBBCL)…here in the USA?

Way back when…”back in da’ day” (2000-2012) this notion surfaced, and has been repeatedly proposed on the periphery. According to SB Nation’s (Anonymous Eagle) writer Andrew Fleck.:

Anonymous Eagle’s Andy Fleck: This is not a new idea by me, of course. I am standing on the shoulders of giants, as John Infante had the idea back before Andy Glockner wrote about it for Sports Illustrated in 2012 and the two of them joined Matt Norlander for a CBS Sports podcast about it in 2013. Friend Of The Show Andrei Greska even brought the idea back up in 2019 for an article on Paint Touches. This isn’t even the first year that we’ve mocked up a CBBCL here on Anonymous Eagle, as we did that in each of the last four years.

Needless to say the notion has merit and the article’s explanation of the workings is detailed. See the Anonymous Eagle links for the 2025 version and the 2026 version below. AE/Fleck go into great detail in ‘fleshing out’ a college hoops version of the tried & true Euro Champions Leagues. He notes that there are many varying offshoots which can be considered in building the league.- there is no one ‘right way’ to configure such a league. In fact, the variations of configuration are some of the most intriguing aspects of such a proposed league.

With the demise of the majority of non-NCAA post-season tourneys, perhaps this idea’s time has come? The College Invitational Tourney (CIT) died in 2024. The College Basketball Invitational Tourney (CBI) died after its’ 2025 run, threatening to return in 2027.. The College Crown Tourney (CCT), which is in it’s 2nd season, has reduced it’s original ambitions due to tourney costs. Both the NCAA Tourney and the legacy NIT are both owned and controlled by the good folks in Indianapolis. The NCAA Men’s tourney being the cashcow for the NCAA’s total operations. See link to ESPN article below. Currently conferences & teams are attempting to makeup financial shortfalls with the new fall holiday tourneys.

Money being the lifeblood of collegiate circulation and growth these days, such a league as the CBBCL offers another avenue of revenue streams for collegiate sports. Post-season play opportunities are shrinking as the CBI, CIT are gone, The CCT is waffling…which left only another 100 billets (2026 NCAA/NIT). With Dance expansion slated for 2027 the number increases to 108 billets. Down from 140 or so when the CBI/CIT were in full swing. If the CCT survives into 2027, add another 16-24 postseason spots. A Champions League would offer an additional 52/53 postseason play billets according to the Anonymous Eagle article. Well worth serious consideration given today’s economic climate in college basketball.

The college basketball Champions League is one of those sporatic ideas that crop up periodically. Notions such as an all-majors P4 football playoff, a 76-84-100 team NCAA Basketball Tourney, or an All-Catholic basketball league. All of which are pipedreams and fantasies…visions of those who are unemployed or dreamers with plenty of time on their hands… Hmmm, wait a darned minute! Those ‘pipedreams’ have materialized into reality, lol. Hmmm? Maybe…just maybe??? A College Basketball Champions League! Hmmm?

Jim Harvey a.k.a.

Hot Fun in the Summertime!

Well here we are already…Summer in the Northern Hemisphere has arrived. A few events and announcements of note to speak on.

Big 12 / College Sports Commission:

Big 12 signs participation agreements with the College Sports Commission, the agency formed last year to police name, image and likeness payments. But all 68 Power Four schools must sign the 11-page document for it to become valid. All schools had initially been asked to review and sign the document by last December. Link #1

Protect College Sports Act

Bi-partisan bill to re-introduce rules and order. Grants some enforcement power back to the NCAA, U.S. senators introduced new and wide-sweeping legislation that aims to address many current issues in college sports, including an effort to restore some rule-making power to the NCAA and open the possibility for conferences to sell their lucrative television rights as one group. Link #2

Transfer Portal happenings.

The portal closed on the 27th. Momcilovic, Yessoufou, Amari Allen, and others withdrew from NBA Draft. Momcilovic is the top available transferee and has many suitors. Momcilovic committed to U of Kentucky on Monday, June 1, 2026. Tanner back to Vanderbilt. Yessoufou to St Johns. Allen back to Alabama

But Amari Allen‘s deadline-day decision to return to Tuscaloosa gives Nate Oats’ team a legitimate shot to be a preseason top-10 team next season. Allen averaged 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists as one of the freshmen who surprised nationally last season. With potential lottery pick Labaron Philon Jr. gone to the NBA, there will also be more playmaking opportunities for Allen. Oats collected a wide range of intriguing wing talent alongside Allen, including 3 top-40 recruits Jaxon Richardson, Qayden Samuels, & Tarris Bouie. Also NC State transfer Cole Cloer.

Allen’s return also crowds the wing slot (5 again…same last year) for ‘Bama & Oats. I expect at least 1 of the 3 newbie wing recruits/1 transfer wing to decommit and go elsewhere…preferrably Richardson. Link #3

Jays News:

No moneda for Momcilovic and praying for a “Bama decommit (Richardson)! Jays are NOT UK/Louisville/St Johns – we don’t have boatloads of highrollers donors, nor a bottomless bucket in our NIL well. Momcilovic would be great, as we know his game (and lack of defense), but such a move would purely based on basketball, and not money. I hoping that dad & mom see the logjam down at Bama and help JR make a decision to move. It’s 5-deep @ SF in Tuscaloosa with 1 returnee, 1 high level transfer, and 3 frosh recruits. Link #3

HussBuss adds 2027 PF London Dada to the fold!

Jays get the commit from the 2027 #39SF-4* ESPN /#135-3* 247 / #119-4* Rivals; recruit, PF London Dada…from Omaha. The top 2027 In-state (NB) recruit. Omaha WH article-Link #4 Tipton/Rivals article-Link #5

LET IT FLY!!! 🐦🏠 pic.twitter.com/i7iWHiu1NE
— London Dada (@londondada_) May 29, 2026

BREAKING: 2027 Omaha Westside four-star forward London Dada is committing to Creighton. pic.twitter.com/nL5ArYo2LN
— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) May 29, 2026

2027 four-star forward London Dada — the No. 1 prospect in Nebraska — announced he’s headed to Creighton.

Had long been a priority for Alan Huss and the Jays, who score a massive in-state recruiting win. Nebraska and Iowa were also after the Omaha Westside product. pic.twitter.com/zUx022CEGu
— Jon Walker (@ByJonWalker) May 29, 2026

NEWS: London Dada, the No. 119 overall recruit in the 2027 class and an Omaha native, has committed to Creighton, he told @Rivals.

The 6-7 small forward also held offers from Nebraska, Kansas State, Texas Tech and others.https://t.co/fFzLymrR40 pic.twitter.com/BaTNM7mrh1
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) May 29, 2026

Look who’s in the back of this photo London Dada posted on his IG story of his younger self mopping the floor at a Creighton game. How prophetic. pic.twitter.com/Mv3XVLD7Ok
— Jon Walker (@ByJonWalker) May 30, 2026