Thanksgiving week is coming up, and for college basketball fans, that also means some of the most exciting non-conference games as well. However, the mid-season tournaments look much different than past years, especially with the emergence of a new event that’s quickly taking over the sport. These are four of the biggest tournaments worth paying attention to next week.
Players Era Festival
Nov. 24-26, Las Vegas, Nev.
Participants: No. 1 Houston, No. 7 Michigan, No. 11 Alabama, No. 13 Gonzaga, No. 14 St. John’s, No. 16 Iowa State, No. 20 Tennessee, No. 22 Auburn, No. 24 Kansas, UNLV, Maryland, Creighton, San Diego State, Oregon, Baylor, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Rutgers
The Players’ Era Festival is swiftly becoming the biggest mid-season event in college hoops, with 18 teams competing for an additional $1 million in NIL money. Each participant is already guaranteed a base $1 million just for playing in the tournament.
The events model closely resembles that of the College Basketball Crown, even down to the location in Las Vegas. The concept of incentivizing teams with NIL money has quickly made its way into the sport after the House v NCAA settlement in June. The event is already planning to expand to 32 teams in 2026, signaling rapid changes in non-conference events to come.
In just the tournament’s second year, the field is stacked with half of its participants currently ranked in the AP poll, and only UNLV is outside of Ken Pomeroy’s top 100.
Each team will play two games on Monday and Tuesday, and those that go 2-0 will have a chance to play for the championship, with point differential and total points scored serving as the tiebreakers. With a lot at stake, expect these games to be some of the most intense matchups in the regular season, and potential shakeups to the top 25 once the event is said and done.
ESPN Events Invitational
Nov. 24-28, Orlando, Fla.
The ESPN Events invitational is split into three separate events: the Adventure, Magic and Imagination brackets.
Adventure Bracket: Bradley, Liberty, Princeton, Rhode Island, Temple, Towson, UC San Diego, Vermont
Magic Bracket: Dayton, BYU, Georgetown, Miami
Imagination Bracket: Charlotte, Furman, Illinois St., Richmond
The Magic Bracket should be the most telling of the three groups. The sole ranked team in the field is No. 9 BYU, looking to reestablish themselves as a legitimate Final Four contender after taking their first loss to UConn. Also look out for Georgetown, the Hoyas may get their biggest test yet after impressive victories over Maryland and Clemson. Miami and Dayton are both coming off disappointing seasons, but success in this event could turn their luck around.
Meanwhile, the Adventure Bracket features a few tournament-caliber mid-major trying to build up their resumes before conference play. Liberty, Vermont and UC San Diego are the clear favorites, and down the road this event could be the difference between an at-large bid or staying home in March.
Maui Invitational
Nov. 24-26, Lahaina, Hawaii
Participants: Seton Hall, USC, Chaminade, NC State, Arizona State, Texas, Washington State, Boise State
Just a year ago, the Maui invitational was stacked with names like Auburn, Michigan State, UNC and UConn. In 2025, just one team is ranked, No. 25 NC State. The event is quickly losing its prestige as one of the premiere feast week events, largely due to models like the Players Era Festival overshadowing it with the promise of NIL funds. It seems like big names are no longer flocking to Hawaii for the sake of legacy or culture any longer.
While the field is missing true blue bloods, the event could still provide some exciting games. Will Wade-led NC State is an intriguing up-and-coming squad, and programs like Boise State and Texas should have a lot to prove after early stumbles. Whoever comes out of the field unscathed will be in good shape heading into conference play.
Battle 4 Atlantis
Nov. 26-28, Atlantis Paradise Island, The Bahamas
Participants: Virginia Tech, Western Kentucky, Wichita State, Vanderbilt, VCU, Saint Mary’s, South Florida, Colorado State
Similar to the Maui Invitational, the Battle 4 Atlantis has seen a stark decrease in top teams joining the field. Not a single participant is ranked, compared to last year’s event with Arizona, Creighton, Gonzaga and Oklahoma as headliners. For many, this year’s field feels more like an NIT preview compared to what it used to be.
However, this year’s event could still be an indication of who to look out for in the mid-major conferences. Saint Mary’s is a perennial contender; USF has built high expectations, and teams like Colorado State and VCU are coming off tournament appearances. Whoever comes out of this field unscathed will put themselves on the radar as conference play draws closer.
It is well-known that the Players Era Festival has emerged as the top mid-season event, with 18 high-level programs pitted against each other, it should be must-watch basketball over break. And although the other tournaments don’t look as flashy, they may still have major implications over who makes the March Madness field this season.