The Players Era Festival was a new multi-team event that began last season around Feast Week in November. It was a first-of-its-kind event, as it paid the teams and players themselves in NIL funds. Eight teams participated, including Alabama, Oregon, Houston, and Creighton. The Ducks defeated the Crimson Tide in the title game to win the inaugural title.
This upcoming year, the number of participants has more than doubled, with nearly 20 teams involved in several different pods. It’s still a three-game MTE, with the production of the third game still unknown. What we do know are the matchups for each team's first two games during Feast Week.
Introducing November Mania
— Players Era (@Players_Era) July 14, 2025
27 Games, 4 Days, 1 Champion, Las Vegas
Players Era Men's Championship: The biggest in-season event ever🏀
📍Location:
MGM Grand Garden Arena 🎰
Michelob ULTRA Arena Las Vegas 🏟️
📺 TNT Sports, with games broadcast on TNT, truTV, HBO Max pic.twitter.com/v8XNgbdixk
On paper, here are the top five games from the Players Era Tournament to watch.
5. Kansas vs Syracuse
Any game involving Kansas will be appealing, especially with top-tier incoming freshman Darryn Peterson joining the roster. But Syracuse has a young star of its own in Kiyan Anthony, a top-30 prospect and son of NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony. Considering how important this year is for the Orange program, this game will have a fair amount ot intrigue.
4. Michigan vs Auburn
These two teams had two of the best frontcourts in all of college basketball last season. They’re all gone but two of the best incoming transfers have joined them in Keyshawn Hall (Auburn) and Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan). Both programs are projected to be ranked in the preseason polls and should be a great early test of the new-look inside groups.
3. Alabama vs Gonzaga
For the past several years, Alabama and Gonzaga have been two of the best offensive units in all of college basketball. That should remain the same, with the Bulldogs bringing back Graham Ike (17.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg), while sophomore guard Labaron Philon has the chance to be one of the best players in CBB next year as the lead guard for the Tide.
2. St. John’s vs Iowa State
St. John’s had one of the biggest offseasons, landing several high-level transfers, including Ian Jackson (UNC), Joson Sanon (ASU), Bryce Hopkins (Providence), and others. They, along with returning all-league center Zuby Ejiofor, should have them in the top-10 range. That could be the same range as ISU, returning three starters, including point guard Tamin Lipsey. It’ll be one of the top overall matchups in the tournament that isn’t the finals.
1. Houston vs Tennessee
Coming off a national title appearance, Houston brings back the backcourt duo of Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp and could be the preseason top team for 2025-26. Tennessee lost some key pieces but should be another top-10 caliber team, thanks to landing Maryland guard transfer, Ja’Kobi Gillespie. This could easily be a top-10 matchup again and the best game from the Players Era Festival.