Matchups are set for the eagerly awaited Players Era Festival, highlighting the upcoming 2025-26 college basketball season. Hosted in Las Vegas, the event will feature 18 teams, each playing a total of three games. One team will earn a hefty prize of $1 million for winning the festival.

All participating schools are guaranteed $1 million, with an additional incentive for the champion, reflecting the new landscape of college sports fueled by NIL agreements. This year’s festival is significant as it represents the event’s second iteration, following a successful launch in 2024 with eight teams.

Returning teams include Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, and Texas A&M (although Texas A&M has been replaced by Maryland). New additions feature Auburn, Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, St. John’s, Syracuse, Tennessee, and UNLV.

This year’s festival is set to be held from November 24-26, during Thanksgiving week, at MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena. Notably, it will also include a women’s teams competition featuring Duke, South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA, further enhancing the tournament’s appeal.

The pool of NIL revenue for participants is expected to exceed $20 million, marking it as the richest regular-season event in college basketball history.

2025 Players Era Schedule
Monday, Nov. 24

• No. 22 Tennessee vs. Rutgers at 1 p.m.
• Baylor vs. Creighton at 2 p.m.
• No. 18 Kansas vs. Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m.
• No. 1 St. John’s vs. No. 13 Iowa State at 4:30 p.m.
• No. 2 Houston vs. Syracuse at 6 p.m.
• No. 17 Oregon vs. No. 19 Auburn at 8 p.m.
• No. 14 Alabama vs. No. 21 Gonzaga at 9:30 p.m.
• No. 8 Michigan vs. San Diego State at 10:30 p.m.
• Maryland vs. UNLV at midnight

Tuesday, Nov. 25

• Rutgers vs. Notre Dame at 1 p.m.
• No. 13 Iowa State vs. Creighton at 2:30 p.m.
• No. 18 Kansas vs. Syracuse at 3:30 p.m.
• No. 1 St. John’s vs. Baylor at 5 p.m.
• No. 2 Houston vs. No. 22 Tennessee at 6 p.m.
• No. 8 Michigan vs. No. 19 Auburn at 8:30 p.m.
• No. 21 Gonzaga vs. Maryland at 9:30 p.m.
• No. 17 Oregon vs. San Diego State at 11 p.m.
• No. 14 Alabama vs. UNLV at midnight

Wednesday, Nov. 26

• Consolation/third-place game at 7 p.m.
• Championship game at 9:30 p.m.