The Players Era Men's Championship in Las Vegas is back for a second year with an expanded field from eight to 18 teams this season.

The tournament field includes eight ranked teams, and five more are receiving votes in the USA TODAY coaches poll, including Creighton and Auburn, which were both ranked until the poll on Nov. 17.

The nine matchups for the first two days on Nov. 24-25 are set, and the results will determine which teams play in the third-place and championship game on Nov. 26. With the potential for up to six teams to go 2-0, tie breakers will be determined by point differential, points scored and points allowed.

Oregon returns as the 2024 Players Era Men's Champion along with San Diego State, Creighton, Alabama, Houston, Rutgers and Notre Dame. Texas A&M is the only team not returning to the event.

Tennessee, Baylor, Kansas, St. John's, Iowa State, Syracuse, Auburn, Gonzaga, Michigan, UNLV and Maryland were additions to the field this year. Some teams, like Tennessee, have signed on to play in the championship for three seasons.

All games will be played at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and the Michelob ULTRA Arena. The games will be broadcast on TNT and truTV, and all games will be live streamed on HBO Max.

The Players Era Championship quickly became the top tournament over the week of Thanksgiving thanks to the money each team can make. Each team is guaranteed at least a $1 million payout according to ESPN, with an additional payout to the winner of the championship game.

Players Era Men's Championship 2025 schedule

All times in EST.

Monday, Nov. 24

  • Rutgers vs. No. 17 Tennessee (1 p.m., TNT)
  • Creighton vs. Baylor (2 p.m., truTV)
  • No. 23 Kansas vs. Notre Dame (3:30 p.m., TNT)
  • No. 16 St. John's vs. No. 14 Iowa State (4:30 p.m., truTV)
  • No. 2 Houston vs. Syracuse (6 p.m., TNT)
  • Auburn vs. Oregon (8 p.m., truTV)
  • No. 12 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 Alabama (9:30 p.m., TNT)
  • No. 6 Michigan vs. San Diego State (10:30 p.m., truTV)
  • UNLV vs. Maryland (midnight, TNT)

Tuesday, Nov. 25

  • Rutgers vs. Notre Dame (1 p.m., TNT)
  • No. 14 Iowa State vs. Creighton (2 p.m., truTV)
  • No. 23 Kansas vs. Syracuse (3:30 p.m., TNT)
  • No. 16 St. John's vs. Baylor (4:30 p.m., truTV)
  • No. 2 Houston vs. No. 17 Tennessee (6 p.m., TNT)
  • No. 6 Michigan vs. Auburn (8:30 p.m., TNT)
  • No. 12 Gonzaga vs. Maryland (9:30 p.m., truTV)
  • Oregon vs. San Diego State (11 p.m., TNT)
  • UNLV vs. No. 11 Alabama (midnight, truTV)

Wednesday, Nov. 26

  • Third-place game (7 p.m., TNT)
  • Championship game (9:30 p.m., TNT)

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Players Era Men's Championship schedule 2025, start times, TV, format