Florida basketball among 24 invited to 2026 Players Era Tournament

Florida basketball will join 23 other programs in the 2026 Players Era Tournament, set for November in Las Vegas. Organized by EverWonder Studio in partnership with ESPN, the event will expand its field from 18 teams in 2025 to 24 this year, originally planned to include 32 but scaled down. The tournament is part of the Players Era Festival, a Las Vegas-based NIL event that pays college basketball players, and will be broadcast by ESPN. The Gators are placed in the Players Era 8 bracket, facing teams like Auburn Tigers, Kansas Jayhawks, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and West Virginia Mountaineers. The other bracket, Players Era 16, includes powerhouse programs like Alabama Crimson Tide, Michigan Wolverines, and Oregon Ducks. Florida head coach Todd Golden emphasized the tournament’s importance, calling it a central piece of the team’s nonconference schedule. Players Era CEO Seth Berger highlighted the growing popularity of college basketball, noting record ratings and top-tier programs in the field. Golden previously stated that the tournament offers multiple marquee matchups, helping the Gators prepare for SEC play. Last season, Florida opened with a loss to top-ranked Arizona Wildcats in Las Vegas, setting a challenging tone for their early schedule. The tournament’s expansion reflects its rising prominence in college basketball, blending competitive play with NIL opportunities for athletes. Florida’s inclusion underscores its status as a major program in the sport, with the tournament serving as a key early-season test for teams nationwide.