2025 Players Era Thanksgiving Festival: Bracket, Schedule, teams, Date, times, how to watch, tv channels, prize money.
Coined “November Mania,” the Players Era Men’s Championships return in 2026 with an expanded format featuring both an 8-team and 16-team event in Las Vegas. The tournaments will showcase some of the strongest early-season fields in college basketball, including recent national champions and multiple top-25 programs.
When is the 2025 Players Era Festival men's championship?
The Players Era 16 runs Tuesday through Saturday, November 24-28, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The championship game will be played on Saturday, November 28 at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Players Era Championship bracket 2026: full teams list
The 2026 field features a loaded group of national championship contenders and NCAA Tournament regulars from across the country.
Players Era 8 teams
Houston, Rutgers, Florida, Notre Dame, West Virginia, Auburn, Kansas, UNLV
Players Era 16 teams
Tennessee, Maryland, San Diego State, Iowa State, St. John’s, Oregon, Louisville, Texas Tech, Gonzaga, Kansas State, Baylor, Alabama, Michigan, Creighton, TCU, Miami (FL)
2026 Players Era Festival TV Schedule, scores, how to watch, game times
Tuesday, November 17, Opening Round
- Houston vs. Rutgers
- Florida vs. Notre Dame
- West Virginia vs. Auburn
- Kansas vs. UNLV
Wednesday, November 18
- Semifinal 1: Winner of Houston/Rutgers vs. Winner of Florida/Notre Dame
- Semifinal 2: Winner of West Virginia/Auburn vs. Winner of Kansas/UNLV
- Consolation games
Thursday, November 19
- Championship Game
- Third-Place Game
- Additional consolation games
Players Era 16 Bracket
The Players Era 16 tournament will be played at T-Mobile Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena from November 24-28.
Tuesday, November 24, Opening Round
- Tennessee vs. Maryland
- San Diego State vs. Iowa State
- St. John's vs. Oregon
- Louisville vs. Texas Tech
- Gonzaga vs. Kansas State
- Baylor vs. Alabama
- Michigan vs. Creighton
- TCU vs. Miami (FL)
Wednesday, November 25
- No games
Thursday, November 26, Semifinals and Consolation Games
- Winner of Tennessee/Maryland vs. Winner of San Diego State/Iowa State
- Winner of St. John's/Oregon vs. Winner of Louisville/Texas Tech
- Winner of Gonzaga/Kansas State vs. Winner of Baylor/Alabama
- Winner of Michigan/Creighton vs. Winner of TCU/Miami
- Consolation games
Friday, November 27
- Bracket Championship games
- Third-place game
- Fifth-place game
- Seventh-place game
Saturday, November 28
- Players Era 16 Championship Game at Michelob ULTRA Arena
2026 Players Era Championships TV Schedule
All 37 games across the Players Era 8 and Players Era 16 tournaments will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN networks.
Specific broadcast assignments will be announced at a later date.
When is 2026 Player's Era championship game?
The 2026 Players Era Men's Championships will bring a deep group of top college basketball programs to Las Vegas for two major early-season tournaments.
The Players Era 8 runs November 17-19, followed by the Players Era 16 from November 24-28. The Players Era 16 championship game will take place at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 28.
Stay updated with the latest Players Era schedules, brackets, results, TV information and tournament news as the November events approach.
2025 Women's Players Era Festival: TV Schedule, kick-off times, how to watch.
What is the Players Era Championship?
2026 Player's Era tournament prize money, payout: How much are players paid?
According to tournament officials, every team in the Players Era events receives significant NIL compensation, with the average team payout described as over $1 million. The tournament winner receives an additional $1 million in NIL compensation.
The second-place team earns $500,000, third place receives $300,000, and fourth place gets $200,000. Exact figures for the 2026 events will be confirmed closer to the tournaments.
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