Players Era hoops tournament expanding to 24 teams

The Players Era men's college basketball tournament is expanding to 24 teams this November in Las Vegas.

An extended version of the event calls for splitting two separate bracket-play tournaments over the course of two weeks.

ESPN reached a multiyear deal to serve as the exclusive broadcast partner, the network announced Thursday. ESPN networks will carry all 37 games of the 2026 event.

"College basketball is the hottest and one of the fastest-growing sports properties in the country," Players Era CEO Seth Berger said.