The 2026 Players Era Championships are shaping up to be a huge deal in college basketball this November. It’s the third time around for this NIL-focused event, and now there are 24 teams in the mix—more than ever before.
Expect some wild matchups and, honestly, some pretty hefty payouts for the schools involved. ESPN is jumping in as the new TV partner, and the format’s getting a facelift with two separate tournaments this time.
Let’s get into what’s actually happening with the Players Era Championships this year.
Expansion and Format Changes
This time, 24 teams are in—up from 18 last year. Organizers have ditched the old pool play setup (which, let’s be honest, wasn’t super popular) and switched to a classic bracket format.
It’s a lot easier to follow and should be way more fun for everyone, whether you’re playing or just watching. The event splits into two tournaments: one with eight teams, and another with sixteen, each with its own flavor.
The Eight-Team Tournament
The first tournament is for eight teams and runs over three days, November 17 to 19. Here’s who’s playing:
- Houston
- Rutgers
- Florida
- Notre Dame
- Auburn
- West Virginia
- Kansas
- UNLV
Day one, November 17, kicks off with these matchups:
- Houston vs. Rutgers
- Florida vs. Notre Dame
- Auburn vs. West Virginia
- Kansas vs. UNLV
Winners move to the semifinals on November 18. Losers aren’t out—they’ll play in the consolation bracket.
November 19 wraps it up with the championship, a third-place game, and more consolation action. It’s a packed schedule.
The Sixteen-Team Tournament
The second tournament is bigger: 16 teams, running November 24 to 28. They’ll be split into two brackets of eight, and the winners of each bracket meet in the championship on November 28.
Here’s the lineup:
- Tennessee
- Maryland
- Iowa State
- San Diego State
- St. John’s
- Oregon
- Louisville
- Texas Tech
- Gonzaga
- Kansas State
- Baylor
- Alabama
- Michigan
- Creighton
- Miami
- TCU
First round games on November 24:
- Tennessee vs. Maryland
- Iowa State vs. San Diego State
- St. John’s vs. Oregon
- Louisville vs. Texas Tech
- Gonzaga vs. Kansas State
- Baylor vs. Alabama
- Michigan vs. Creighton
- Miami vs. TCU
Winners go to the semifinals on November 26. The big championship game is set for November 28.
There’ll be plenty of consolation games too, so every team gets some time on the court and fans won’t be short on hoops to watch.
Notable Teams and Players
There’s no shortage of big names this year. Out of the 24 teams, 13 played in last year’s NCAA Tournament, so yeah, the competition’s stacked.
Some of the heavy hitters:
- Florida
- Michigan
- Gonzaga
- Iowa State
- Houston
- Louisville
- Tennessee
These squads are all in CBS Sports’ top 15 offseason rankings, so they’re not messing around. Expect to see some future NBA talent on display, all chasing both the trophy and some sweet NIL payouts.
Broadcast and Viewing Information
This year, ESPN’s on board as the TV partner for the first time, which should crank up the hype and bring more eyeballs to the event. They’ll have in-depth coverage and analysis for every game.
Exact game times and TV slots aren’t out yet. If you’re planning to watch, keep an eye out for updates later this offseason.
Additional Events and Highlights
There’s more going on in Vegas that week than just the Championships. For one, Duke and UConn are playing a single game at T-Mobile Arena the day before Thanksgiving.
That game’s part of Duke’s new deal with Amazon Prime Video—kind of a historic move, honestly. Should be a must-watch for college hoops fans.
All told, the 2026 Players Era Championships will pack in 37 games, making it the largest regular-season college basketball event ever. With so much on the line, this could be a turning point for the sport.
Conclusion
The 2026 Players Era Championships look like they’re going to be something special for college basketball fans. The field’s bigger, there’s a new broadcast partner in the mix, and the bracket feels more classic this time around.
Honestly, it feels like one of those years you might end up talking about for a while. If you’re even a little bit into hoops, you probably won’t want to skip this one.
Want more details? Check out the full article on CBS Sports here.
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