Notre Dame men's basketball to face Kansas, Rutgers in Players Era Festival

Notre Dame will face Kansas and Rutgers in its first two games of the 2025 Players Era Festival, the Irish announced Tuesday afternoon.

Third-year head coach Micah Shrewsberry‘s group will take on the Jayhawks at 3:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 24, before facing the Scarlett Knights at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Notre Dame will be matched up with a third team on Wednesday, Nov. 26 depending on the result of the first two games.

Other schools participating in the men’s Players Era Festival include Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Iowa State, Michigan, Oregon, San Diego State, Saint Joseph’s, St. John’s, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV. Each team will receive $1 million in Name, Image and Likeness money for their participation, with an additional $1 million for the champion.

The Irish participated in the inaugural Players Era Festival last season, but the games quickly became a secondary concern. Star point guard Markus Burton suffered a knee injury that looked like it would end his season three minutes into Notre Dame’s first game against Rutgers, which it lost in overtime despite a late three-point barrage from shooting guard Matt Allocco.

Burton damaged his MCL but did not require surgery, so he returned a month later. The Irish would lose their next two Players Era games without Burton to Houston and Creighton, respectively.

Regarding Notre Dame’s two guaranteed Players Era opponents, Kansas is coming off a disappointing season that included a loss to arch rival Missouri on Dec. 8. The Jayhawks will feature five-star freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who is a candidate to be selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Rutgers will have to improve on its 15-17 2024-25 season without two elite players in guard Dylan Harper and forward Ace Bailey. They were selected No. 2 and No. 5 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz, respectively.

The Kansas file

2024-25 results

• Final record: 21-13 (11-9 Big 12)
• Conference finish: Sixth
• NCAA Tournament seed: No. 7, West Region
• NCAA Tournament finish: Lost in first round to No. 10 Arkansas, 79-72

Roster update

• Key losses: C Hunter Dickinson (graduation), F KJ Adams (graduation), G Dajuan Harris (graduation), G Zeke Mayo (graduation), G Rylan Griffin (transfer, Texas A&M), G AJ Storr (transfer, Ole Miss), G David Coit (transfer, Maryland), G Shakeel Moore (graduation)
• Incoming freshmen: Five-star G Darryn Peterson, four-star F Bryson Tiller, three-star F Samis Calderon, three-star G Kohl Rosario
• Incoming transfers: F Tre White (Illinois), G Melvin Council (St. Bonaventure), G Jayden Dawson (Loyola-Chicago)
• Returning contributors: F Flory Bidunga

The Rutgers file

2024-25 results

• Final record: 15-17 (8-12 Big Ten)
• Conference finish: 11th
• NCAA Tournament seed: Did not qualify
• NCAA Tournament finish: N/A

Roster update

• Key losses: G Dylan Harper (NBA, No. 2 overall), F Ace Bailey (NBA, No. 5 overall), G Jeremiah Williams (Georgetown), F Jordan Derkack (Dayton), F Lathan Sommerville (Washington), F Zach Martini (graduation), G Tyson Acuff (graduation), G PJ Hayes (graduation)
• Incoming freshmen: Four-star F Chris Nwuli, three-star G Lino Mark, three-star F Gevonte Ware, three-star G Kaden Powers, three-star F Harun Zrno
• Incoming transfers: F Baye Fall (Kansas State), F Darren Buchanan (George Washington)
• Returning contributors: F Dylan Grant, F Emmanuel Ogbole, G Jamichael Davis

Notre Dame’s non-conference schedule: What we know so far

Not including exhibitions at Butler (Oct. 17) and vs. DePaul (Oct. 24)

• Nov. 3: Long Island**
• Nov. 24: Kansas*
• Nov. 25: Rutgers*
• Nov. 26: Opponent TBD*
• Dec. 2: Missouri^
• Dec. 13: Evansville**
• Date TBD: at Ohio State**

* Players Era Festival in Las Vegas
^ ACC/SEC Challenge
** Reported by Jon Rothstein