Eight of the country’s top basketball programs are heading to Las Vegas during the Thanksgiving tournament week for a groundbreaking event where actual cash is tied to the performance of their athletes, specifically benefiting their schools’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) initiatives.
This event, known as the Players Era Festival, is a three-day gathering commencing on Tuesday and organized by EverWonder Studios, which is backed by RedBird IMI. The festival is redefining traditional holiday tournaments by ensuring that each participating school will earn at least $1 million for its NIL collective, with additional incentives of $500,000 for the champion, $250,000 for the runner-up, $150,000 for third place, and $100,000 for fourth.
“Our vision for Players Era was to catalyze a beneficial change within college basketball, and we are now witnessing it come to fruition as we gear up for next week,” stated Seth Berger, the event’s CEO. He emphasized that the initiative’s focus is on providing value to the players, adhering to the principle of compensating them fairly for their NIL and producing engaging content for fans.
The total financial payout for schools participating in the event amounts to an impressive $9 million.
The promise of substantial financial rewards has attracted a formidable lineup for the round-robin format set at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. On Tuesday, San Diego State will take on No. 21 Creighton, while Oregon faces No. 20 Texas A&M. Additionally, sixth-ranked Houston will square off against No. 9 Alabama, and Rutgers will play against Notre Dame. Each team will engage in further matchups on Wednesday, with results and point differentials, limited to a maximum of 20 points per game, determining the matchups for Saturday’s championship and consolation games.
Beyond the financial incentives, the Players Era Festival promises several compelling matchups among potential national title contenders. The Bluejays are spearheaded by All-American hopeful Ryan Kalkbrenner, and the Cougars and Crimson Tide are seen as strong contenders for March Madness. Notably, Texas A&M is part of a robust group of nine SEC schools currently ranked in the AP Top 25.
Houston’s coach, Kelvin Sampson, reflected on the uncertainty of postseason success, noting the unpredictable nature of basketball. “A poor call, missed shot, or injury can change everything,” he explained. “Thus, rather than fixating on the outcome, we should take pride in our effort and the journey we undergo.” He emphasized the importance of judging a season by the effort put forth rather than the final results.
Meanwhile, the Maui Invitational marks its milestone 40th anniversary this year in Lahaina after being relocated last year due to wildfires. The event commenced on Monday, showcasing a highly competitive field including a match between fourth-ranked Auburn and No. 5 Iowa State. Other opening round games include second-ranked UConn against Memphis, Colorado versus Michigan State, and Dayton facing No. 12 North Carolina. The tournament will continue with semifinal rounds on Tuesday, followed by the championship game on Wednesday.
In another highly anticipated clash, top-ranked Kansas, led by All-American center Hunter Dickinson, is set to compete against No. 11 Duke in the Vegas Showdown on Tuesday night. Kansas has previously triumphed over North Carolina and Michigan State, while Duke is looking to bounce back after a loss to No. 8 Kentucky but is riding high following a win against then-No. 17 Arizona.
Additionally, the Battle 4 Atlantis returns to Atlantis Paradise Island, hosting a unique Thanksgiving tournament that features third-ranked Gonzaga, No. 14 Indiana, and No. 21 Arizona among its eight teams, starting Wednesday with semifinals slated for Thursday and concluding with the championship on Friday.
Several other noteworthy games are on the radar. No. 18 Florida aims to leverage a home-court advantage in the ESPN Events Invitational at Walt Disney World Resort, joining teams like Minnesota, Wichita State, and Wake Forest. The Rady Children’s Invitational will kick off on Thursday in San Diego, with No. 13 Purdue taking on NC State and No. 23 Ole Miss squaring off against BYU. Additionally, No. 19 Arkansas will challenge Illinois in the Thanksgiving Hoops Showcase, taking place at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Overall, this Thanksgiving weekend promises an exciting blend of basketball action and impactful financial opportunities for college programs.