How does Player's Era tournament work? Standings, format explained, players payout

How does Player's Era tournament work? Standings, format explained, players payout

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Story byJordan Mendoza, USA TODAYWed, November 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM UTC·4 min read

The premier multi-team event of Thanksgiving week is set to crown a champion on Wednesday, Nov. 26 in the Players Era Festival.

A 18-team tournament has played two full days of hoops in Las Vegas, providing early season tests to March Madness hopefuls. While it appears like a tournament, it's far from a traditional setup with an obvious bracket that determining a champion and other placings.

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Instead the format uses formula to determine if teams have a chance at the crown, meaning teams that win all three of their games may still not win the championship.

It's caused quite a bit of confusing in the college basketball world − and brought questions as to if it's good for the sport. With the Player's Era Festival reaching its final days, here's what to understand about it.

A general overall view as Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) dribbles the ball against St. John's Red Storm forward Bryce Hopkins (23) over the 2025 Players Era Festival logo at midcourt in a group play game at Michelob Ultra Arena.

How Player's Era tournament championship is determined

The Player's Era uses standings created after every team played its first two set games on Monday, Nov. 23 and Tuesday, Nov. 24. The order is determined by:

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• Win/loss record

• Head-to-head record

• Point differential (capped at 20 points per game)

• Total points scored

• Total points allowed

• Associated Press ranking as of Monday, Nov. 24

The tournament encourages not just winning, but winning by a lot. It is similar to how the NBA Cup determines its teams.

Player's Era tournament results, standings and bracket

TEAM

WINS

LOSSES

POINT DIFFERENTIAL

Michigan

2

0

+40

Gonzaga

2

0

+30

Tennessee

2

0

+23

Kansas

2

0

+21

Iowa State

2

0

+19

St. John's

1

1

+14

Alabama

1

1

+10

Houston

1

1

+1

San Diego State

1

1

-3

Notre Dame

1

1

-5

Baylor

1

1

-8

Auburn

1

1

-9

Maryland

1

1

-23

Syracuse

0

2

-15

Creighton

0

2

-25

Rutgers

0

2

-25

UNLV

0

2

-27

Oregon

0

2

-28

Player's Era tournament championship, third place game

Given the criteria, the games for Wednesday match the top four teams.

• Michigan vs. Gonzaga in the Player's Era championship game

• Tennessee vs. Kansas in the Player's Era third-place game

The rest of the consolation matchups use different criteria. Most notably, the matchups are made to avoid games against teams from the same conference and avoid contests between teams that have already played or are scheduled to play each other later this season.

A majority of the consolation games will take place on Nov. 26, with the bottom four teams playing their games on Thursday, Nov. 27.

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There is so confusion and frustration since not every team played the same teams or caliber of opponent. For example, Tennessee had arguably the best win of the tournament against No. 2 Houston, but the Volunteers won't get to play for first place.

Also, Kansas gets into the third-place game despite not playing any ranked opponents, while unbeaten Iowa State was denied despite a ranked win over St. John's.

Player's Era tournament payout

Tournament CEO Seth Berger said every team in the tournament will receive "over $1 million on average" in name, image and likeness compensation, although exact value remains unclear. However, those in the championship and third-place game will get a bigger prize.

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Berger added the tournament winner will receive an additional $1 million in NIL compensation, while the second-place finisher gets $500,000. Third place will receive a$300,000 and the fourth-place finisher gets $200,000.

Magic Johnson college dominance: Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird’s Indiana State. NBA: 5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Carmelo Anthony college dominance: In his lone season (2003), led Syracuse to a national championship and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman.NBA: 10× NBA All-Star. 2012–13 NBA scoring champion, averaging 28.7 points per game.

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Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college

Magic Johnson college dominance: Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird’s Indiana State. NBA: 5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

1 / 2

Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college

Magic Johnson college dominance: Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird’s Indiana State. NBA: 5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

2 / 2

Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college

Carmelo Anthony college dominance: In his lone season (2003), led Syracuse to a national championship and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman.NBA: 10× NBA All-Star. 2012–13 NBA scoring champion, averaging 28.7 points per game.

Player's Era tournament schedule

Wednesday, Nov. 26

• Syracuse vs. No. 13 Iowa State | 1 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)

• Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Houston | 3:30 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)

• Third-place game: Kansas vs. No. 16 Tennessee | 7 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)

• No. 16 St. John's vs. No. 25 Auburn | 8 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)

• Championship game: No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 10 Gonzaga | 9:30 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)

• Baylor vs. San Diego State | 10:30 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)

• Maryland vs. No. 9 Alabama | 11:59 p.m. | TNT (Sling TV)

Thursday, Nov. 27

Oregon vs. Creighton | 2 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)

UNLV vs. Rutgers | 4:30 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Player's Era tournament schedule, format explained, player payouts

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