LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas Tech will open the Players Era 16 against Louisville on Tuesday, Nov. 24, in Las Vegas.
Players Era, an EverWonder Studio company, MGM Resorts International and ESPN announced the full brackets for the 2026 Players Era Men’s Championships. The Players Era 16 Championship is set for Tuesday through Saturday, Nov. 24-28, at T-Mobile Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena.
The Red Raiders and Cardinals will meet for the third time with Tech owning a 2-0 all-time record after wins at the 2022 Maui Invitational and the 2019 Jimmy V Classic.
Tech is coming off its third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Grant McCasland and finished last season with a 23-11 overall record. Louisville went 24-11 last season, reaching the NCAA Tournament Second Round before being eliminated by Michigan State.
The Texas Tech-Louisville winner would match up against the St. John’s-Oregon winner on Thanksgiving.
Tech’s bracket also includes Tennessee against Maryland, San Diego State vs. Iowa State and St. John’s facing Oregon. The other bracket has Gonzaga taking on Kansas State, Baylor playing Alabama, Michigan vs. Creighton and TCU vs. Miami.
The Players Era 16 will culminate with a championship game played Saturday, Nov. 28, at Michelob ULTRA Arena. All 37 games across the two tournaments will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks as part of a multi-year broadcast agreement between Players Era and ESPN.
Following an off day on Wednesday, Nov. 25, tournament play will resume on Thanksgiving Day with four semifinal and four consolation games. The bracket championships and third, fifth and seventh-place matchups will take place Friday, Nov. 27.
Additional information about ticket on-sale dates and broadcast networks will be announced soon.
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