Big news in college basketball: After a two-year run on TNT Sports, the Players Era Men's Championships is making a major move. ESPN has just announced a multiyear media rights deal for this early-season tournament, which brings together some of the nation's top programs to compete for a groundbreaking NIL prize pool. This shift comes after reports that Players Era was struggling to secure a partner willing to meet its $50 million asking price—a figure well above what most multi-team events command.
Here's what fans can expect: The 2026 Players Era will feature two tournament brackets with a total of 24 teams. The "Players Era Eight" tips off the week before Thanksgiving, showcasing eight powerhouse programs: Kansas, Florida, Houston, Auburn, Notre Dame, West Virginia, Rutgers, and UNLV. Then, during Thanksgiving Week, the "Players Era Sixteen" takes over with a stacked field including Michigan, Gonzaga, St. John's, Baylor, Louisville, Iowa State, Alabama, Tennessee, Miami, Texas Tech, Maryland, TCU, Oregon, Creighton, SDSU, and Kansas State. That's five days of non-stop hoops action.
Under the new deal, ESPN Events will team up with EverWonder—the company that founded Players Era—to handle operations. This partnership cements ESPN's dominance in men's college basketball multi-team events, adding to its roster of marquee tournaments like the Maui Invitational.
Since its debut, Players Era has shaken up the college basketball landscape by luring top programs with guaranteed NIL payouts and a prize pool tied to tournament performance. It's been a game-changer on paper, but not without growing pains. Reports have surfaced that the event has been late in issuing payments to schools like Oregon, UNLV, and Iowa State—a red flag that can't be ignored.
Still, the on-court product has been a winner, drawing strong viewership and buzz. During its two-year stint as lead broadcaster, TNT Sports invested heavily in production, and the tournament delivered exciting basketball. Now, with ESPN's reach and resources behind it, the Players Era Championships is poised for an even bigger spotlight. For fans and players alike, this is a tournament to watch—both for the high-level competition and the evolving story of NIL in college sports.