Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech, Louisville set for Players Era 16 opening round
May 21, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Thanksgiving Week event culminates with championship game on Saturday, Nov. 28
LUBBOCK – Texas Tech will open the Players Era 16 against Louisville on Tuesday, November 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 with the Players Era 16 Championship set for Tuesday-Saturday, November 24-28, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and Michelob ULTRA Arena.
The Red Raiders and Cardinals will be meeting for the third time ever 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, St. John's facing Oregon while the other the 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 stand-alone 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 new multi-year broadcast agreement between Players Era and ESPN. The Players Era Men's Championships are set to deliver yet another early-season showcase featuring returning marquee national championship contenders, new powerhouse programs, and teams from seven different premier conferences.
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, and the Players Era 16 Championship Game will be Saturday, Nov. 28, at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Additional information about ticket on-sale dates and broadcast networks will be announced soon.
Players Era 16 | Tuesday-Saturday, November 24-28 at T-Mobile Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena
Tuesday, Nov. 24 – Opening Round Games (All times TBD)
Tennessee vs. Maryland
San Diego State vs. Iowa State
St. John's vs. Oregon
Louisville vs. Texas Tech
Gonzaga vs. Kansas State
Baylor vs. Alabama
Michigan vs. Creighton
TCU vs. Miami (FL)
Wednesday, Nov. 25
No games scheduled
Thursday, Nov. 26 (All times TBD)
Semifinal #1 - WINNER (Tennessee/Maryland) vs. WINNER (San Diego State/Iowa State)
Semifinal #2 - WINNER (St. John's/Oregon) vs. WINNER (Louisville/Texas Tech)
Consolation #1
Consolation #2
Semifinal #3- WINNER (Gonzaga/Kansas State) vs. WINNER (Baylor/Alabama)
Semifinal #4 - WINNER (Michigan/Creighton) vs. WINNER (TCU/Miami)
Consolation #3
Consolation #4
Friday, Nov. 27 (All times TBD)
Bracket #1 Champ – WINNER Semifinal #1 vs. WINNER Semifinal #2
Bracket #2 Champ – WINNER Semifinal #3 vs. WINNER Semifinal #4
Bracket #1 Third Place
Bracket #1 Fifth Place
Bracket #1 Seventh Place
Bracket #2 Third Place
Bracket #2 Fifth Place
Bracket #2 Seventh Place
Saturday, Nov. 28 (Time TBD)
Players Era 16 Championship Game (Michelob ULTRA Arena)
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