Players Era Men's Championships: Exclusive ESPN Broadcast Partnership and Expanded Tournament Format

Players Era Men's Championships: Exclusive ESPN Broadcast Partnership and Expanded Tournament Format

Players Era, a tournament organized by EverWonder Studio, has signed a multiyear agreement with ESPN to broadcast the Players Era Men's Championships exclusively. The tournament is expanding to include 24 teams, split into two separate bracket-play tournaments in Las Vegas over two weeks. The CEO of Players Era, Seth Berger, expressed excitement about the partnership with ESPN, highlighting the strength of the teams participating in the event.

The first week of the tournament, starting on November 16, will feature The Players Era Eight, with teams like Florida, Houston, Kansas, Auburn, and others competing. The following week, during Thanksgiving, The Players Era Sixteen will take place, with reigning champion Michigan and other top teams like Gonzaga, Louisville, and Texas Tech participating.

The format of the tournament has changed to bracket-play this year, a departure from the previous format. ESPN networks will exclusively broadcast all 37 games of the tournament, showcasing elite programs and high-stakes matchups at the beginning of the college basketball season. The partnership between Players Era and ESPN aims to elevate the tournament and provide fans across the country with exciting basketball action.

Out of the 24 teams participating in the two tournaments, 13 were part of the 2026 NCAA tournament, and 10 are ranked in ESPN's recent Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings. The collaboration between Players Era and ESPN promises to bring top-tier college basketball competition to viewers and further enhance the tournament's prestige.