The 2026-27 men's college basketball multi-team event schedule reflects a shifting landscape, with the Players Era events emerging as the premier tournaments. The Players Era has simplified its format, replacing last year's confusing 18-team structure with two separate bracket-style events: a 16-team tournament and an eight-team tournament, both in Las Vegas.
1. Players Era 16
Dates: Nov. 24-28 | Location: Las Vegas. The 16-team field features 14 high-major programs plus Gonzaga and San Diego State, including nine preseason AP Top 25 teams. Bracket 1 includes Miami vs. TCU, Creighton vs. Michigan, Baylor vs. Alabama, Gonzaga vs. Kansas State. Bracket 2 includes Tennessee vs. Maryland, San Diego State vs. Iowa State, Texas Tech vs. Louisville, Oregon vs. St. John's. Winners of each eight-team bracket meet in a championship game on Nov. 28. All teams play three games, with the finalists playing a fourth for a $1 million bonus.
2. Players Era 8
Dates: Nov. 17-19 | Location: Las Vegas (Michelob Ultra Arena). Headlined by preseason No. 1 Florida, the eight-team bracket also includes Houston, Kansas, Auburn, West Virginia, Rutgers, Notre Dame, and UNLV. Potential semifinals could feature Houston vs. Florida and Kansas vs. Auburn. Kansas is reported to be the highest-compensated school among the 24 contracted with Players Era.
3. Maui Invitational
Dates: Nov. 23-25 | Location: Lahaina, Hawaii. The eight-team bracket includes Ole Miss vs. Clemson, Washington vs. BYU, VCU vs. Providence, and Colorado State vs. Arizona. While the event has lost some top teams to the Players Era, this year's field is stronger than 2025, with Arizona and BYU leading. The VCU-Providence opener is highlighted as a key resume-building game.
4. Rady Children's Invitational
Dates: Nov. 26-27 | Location: San Diego. A four-team bracket featuring Texas vs. Georgetown and UCLA vs. Saint Mary's. Both Texas and UCLA were preseason Top 25 teams. Texas added five-star freshmen Marcus Spears Jr. and Austin Goosby plus transfers David Punch (TCU) and Isaiah Johnson (Colorado). UCLA added Texas Tech transfer Jaylen Petty and European import Nikola Kusturica. The winner could face the other in a title game.
5. Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship
Dates: Nov. 19-20 | Location: Nassau, Bahamas. A four-team bracket with NC State vs. Murray State and Wisconsin vs. Seton Hall. The event stands out for maintaining a traditional tournament format. Murray State, a high-octane mid-major, faces first-year ACC coach Justin Gainey's NC State. The winner meets either Seton Hall (seeking an NCAA return after a 21-12 season) or Wisconsin.
