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The elite Players Era Festival made its debut in college basketball last year. The event brought together the elite programs like the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Houston Cougars.
Last year's field also had eight teams, including the San Diego State Aztecs, Oregon Ducks, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Creighton Bluejays and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Texas A&M, which also participated last year, was not included this season following former coach Buzz Williams’ move to Maryland.
The Players Era Festival is an 18-team tournament that is held annually in Las Vegas with a $20 million pot, where each team plays three games for a chance to play in the championship game. All participating teams are guaranteed $1 million for participating but the winning team gets an additional $1 million.
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The field for the event will expand this year with the St. John's Red Storm, UNLV Rebels, Tennessee Volunteers, Auburn Tigers, Kansas Jayhawks, Michigan Wolverines, Baylor Bears and Syracuse Orange joining.
The three-day schedule for the Players Era Festival event is as follows:
Monday, Nov. 24
No. 22 Tennessee vs. Rutgers, 1 p.m.
Baylor vs. Creighton, 2 p.m.
No. 18 Kansas vs. Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.
No. 1 St. John's vs. No. 13 Iowa State, 4:30 p.m.
No. 2 Houston vs. Syracuse, 6 p.m.
No. 17 Oregon vs. No. 19 Auburn, 8 p.m.
No. 14 Alabama vs. No. 21 Gonzaga, 9:30 p.m.
No. 8 Michigan vs. San Diego State, 10:30 p.m.
Maryland vs. UNLV, midnight
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 1 p.m.
No. 13 Iowa State vs. Creighton, 2:30 p.m.
No. 18 Kansas vs. Syracuse, 3:30 p.m
No. 1 St. John's vs. Baylor, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 22 Tennessee, 6 p.m.
No. 8 Michigan vs. No. 19 Auburn, 8:30 p.m.
No. 21 Gonzaga vs. Maryland, 9:30 p.m.
No. 17 Oregon vs. San Diego State, 11 p.m.
No. 14 Alabama vs. UNLV, midnight
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Consolation/third-place game: 7 p.m.
Championship game: 9:30 p.m.
The 2025 Players Era Festival format
The 2025 Players Era Festival will be held over three days (November 24-26) on Thanksgiving Week at the Michelob Ultra Arena and the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
This year's event will also feature four women's team, including the UCLA Bruins, South Carolina Gamecocks, Duke Blue Devils and Texas Longhorns, three of whom were in the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
The showcase Players Era Festival event will be broadcast by Warner Bros with some games on TNT and TBS and will be streamed on HBO Max.
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