Auburn men’s basketball will be joining the Player’s Era Tournament for the next three seasons, as announced by the school on Friday. The 2025 edition will be the tournament’s second iteration, following its debut in 2024. Auburn becomes the 17th team added to the field, which already includes 12 teams that are ranked or receiving votes in the current AP Top 25.
What sets the Player’s Era Tournament apart is its unique integration of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) opportunities. The championship will offer athletes from each team the chance to engage in at least $1 million worth of NIL activities for the tournament and its sponsors outside of gameplay, as stated in a press release.
Oregon claimed victory in the inaugural 2024 tournament, defeating Texas A&M, San Diego State, and Alabama. All eight teams from that first tournament will return for 2025.
Auburn men’s basketball
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl expressed excitement about the opportunity, saying in a release, “Auburn Basketball is really excited about being a part of the field at the Players Era Festival for the next three years. It’s a chance for our student-athletes to compete at a high level and be part of this groundbreaking scheduling concept. Our fans will love the chance to travel and experience it all.”
New teams joining the field in 2025 alongside Auburn include Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, St. Joseph’s, St. John’s, and Syracuse. These newcomers will compete alongside returning teams such as Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, and Texas A&M. The 2025 tournament will introduce a completely revamped format combining international-style group play with championship matchups.
Leave a Reply