Photo: Matt_Brown / E+ / Getty Images
The Syracuse University men's basketball team will compete in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas this November. The event, also known as "November Mania," will take place from Monday, November 24, to Wednesday, November 26. Syracuse will face the Houston Cougars on November 24 and the Kansas Jayhawks on November 25. The Orange will play a third game on either November 26 or 27 against an opponent yet to be determined.
The Players Era Festival, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena, features 18 teams competing for a share of more than $20 million in NIL-related earnings. Each team is guaranteed $1 million for participating, with an additional $1 million prize for the tournament champion. This groundbreaking event, now in its second year, aims to revolutionize college basketball by integrating NIL incentives.
The festival will showcase several high-profile matchups, including St. John's vs. Iowa State and Oregon vs. Auburn. According to CBS Sports, the tournament will be broadcast by Warner Bros. Discovery, with games airing on TNT, TBS, and streaming on HBO Max.
The event's unique structure allows teams that go 2-0 in the first two rounds to advance to the championship rounds. Tiebreakers, such as point differential and total points scored, will determine the final matchups if necessary. The Players Era Festival is expected to grow in the coming years, with plans to expand to a 32-team event by 2026.