2025 Players Era Festival: Schedule, game times revealed

One of the premier Multiple Team Events (MTE) in college basketball takes place in Las Vegas the week of Thanksgiving. Still a relatively new tournament, the Players Era Festival brings out the modern aspect of the sport. Schools receive cash for participating and winning, which is then distributed to players on the roster.

This year’s field has expanded to 18 teams, all of which will earn $1 million for participating. Now, the goal is to earn another $1 million by winning the championship game. Before getting there, two preliminary games must be played.

For those, the schedule has been released. Well over 12 hours of basketball will come our way to get the holiday week started. You can check out the full slate of games here, provided by Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. All of the times listed are in ET.

Monday, Nov. 24

Tennessee vs. Rutgers, 1 p.m.
Baylor vs. Creighton, 2 p.m. 
Kansas vs. Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. 
St. John’s vs. Iowa State, 4:30 p.m. 
Houston vs. Syracuse, 6 p.m. 
Oregon vs. Auburn, 8 p.m. 
Alabama vs. Gonzaga, 9:30 p.m. 
Michigan vs. San Diego State, 10:30 p.m. 
Maryland vs. UNLV, midnight

Tuesday, Nov. 25

Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 1 p.m. 
Iowa State vs. Creighton, 2:30 p.m. 
Kansas vs. Syracuse, 3:30 p.m 
St. John’s vs. Baylor, 5 p.m. 
Houston vs. Tennessee, 6 p.m. 
Michigan vs. Auburn, 8:30 p.m. 
Gonzaga vs. Maryland, 9:30 p.m. 
Oregon vs. San Diego State, 11 p.m. 
Alabama vs. UNLV, midnight 

As of now, only two games are on the schedule for Wednesday night. The third-place matchup will tip off at 7 p.m., followed by the championship game at 9 p.m. Every team involved in the Players Era Festival will play at least three times, with other showdowns to be determined.

Determining who gets into the championship game will require more than just looking at the record, though. If the possibility arises where at least three teams are 2-0, Norlander explained the tiebreaker rules.

“With only two game results to determine who gets to play for the championship and the inevitability of more than two teams being 2-0 by the end of Tuesday, point differential, total points scored and points allowed will all affect the tally and serve as tiebreakers, just like in 2024,” Norlander said.

Alabama and Oregon were in the championship game last year, with the Ducks emerging on top. Dana Altman and Nate Oats are hoping to meet up once again, going up against 16 other programs with their eyes on the $1 million prize.