The league's format varies every season with 250 teams coming from nine different regional areas nationwide.

Reynaldo Gamboa, former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) chairman and team governor for the Shell Turbo Chargers was named as the chairman of the tournament, while former national coach Joe Lipa served as the tournament director and commissioner.

In 2008, the national governing body of basketball in the Philippines, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) sanctioned the CCL and was renamed into the Philippine Collegiate Champions League in which the organizers of the old CCL were retained.

The top two teams from UAAP and NCAA, together with the CESAFI champion were seeded automatically.

In 2018, changes in the tournament format were made to give provincial teams a fair chance to be in the championship round.

Lyceum Pirates NU Bulldogs UE Red Warriors UI Wildcats NU Bulldogs The third season of the CCL began on February 11, 2005, with Philippine Basketball League's Chino Trinidad as the Commissioner.