The First Annual Players Era Thanksgiving Festival Kicks Off at MGM Garden Arena
Experience the First-of-Its-Kind Tournament with NIL Guarantees
The Players Era Festival - A First-of-Its-Kind Tournament
In the era of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), this festival stands out as a unique event. It has committed a substantial $9 million in NIL guarantees, which will be evenly distributed among the eight teams. Players will not only have the chance to showcase their skills on the court but also grow their personal brands through financial education programs and various on-call NIL opportunities. Each program will receive $1 million in NIL opportunities by participating in additional events separate from the tournament.This tournament is divided into two brackets: Impact and Power, each comprising four teams. Each program will play two games in pool play and will be seeded 1-4 after the first two days. After a two-day break for Thanksgiving, each team will face the corresponding seed from the opposite bracket. To secure a spot in the top four, teams must finish as the first or second seed on their side of the bracket. Teams seeded third or fourth will play a consolation game on Saturday, with no additional NIL money awarded.
The participating teams bring a diverse range of talents and strategies. Alabama and Texas A&M from the SEC are known for their strong football programs and are expected to make a mark on the basketball court. Oregon and Rutgers from the Big Ten add a different flavor with their fast-paced playing styles. Houston from the Big 12, Creighton from the Big East, San Diego State from the Mountain West, and Notre Dame from the ACC all have their own unique identities and fan bases.
Notre Dame's Tournament Schedule and Opponents
Notre Dame begins its Players Era Festival week tonight with a late game against Rutgers at 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM local). On Wednesday, they face Houston in another late matchup, tipping off at 12:30 AM ET (9:30 PM local). Both games will be aired on TBS. Depending on their performance, Notre Dame will be seeded accordingly and will play Saturday against one of Creighton, Oregon, San Diego State, or Texas A&M. If Notre Dame finishes as a top 2 seed, the third-place game will air on TNT at 7:00 PM ET (4:00 PM local). The championship game will also be broadcast on TNT, scheduled for 9:30 PM ET (6:30 PM local). If the Irish finish pool play as a 3rd or 4th seed, their games will take place earlier on Saturday, either at 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM local) or 3:30 PM ET (12:30 PM local), and will be aired on TruTV.Both Notre Dame and Rutgers enter the tournament with tough losses after starting the season 4-0. The Irish were defeated late last week by Elon at home, while Rutgers suffered an upset on the road against Kennesaw State. Rutgers comes in as a slight favorite for tonight's game. The line opened at -1.5 and has since moved to -2.5, indicating that Vegas considers this a close matchup. Notre Dame's second opponent, Houston, is widely regarded as the best team in the tournament. While tonight's result will likely influence the line for Wednesday's game, Houston is expected to be a heavy favorite.
This is a crucial opportunity for Micah Shrewsberry's squad to make a significant impact over the next two days. The players will need to bring their A-game and perform at their best to achieve their goals in the tournament.
