Early season college basketball tournaments are a long-standing tradition in the sport. In the days and weeks that sees the college football season ends, teams hit the hardwood for some tournament ball during the Thanksgiving holiday.

While the Preseason NIT and Great Alaska Shootout no longer exist, the Maui Invitational and Battle 4 Atlantis tournaments continue to be the standard of preseason tournament action.

However, starting on Tuesday, a new tournament hits the scene in Las Vegas, unlike something we’ve never seen before.

The Players Era Thanksgiving Festival, featuring the Alabama Crimson Tide, and a host of other top programs will battle for much more than a trophy.

Unlike some of the other tournaments during the week, the embracing of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is at the forefront. The top four finishers of the tournament will receive a winner’s purse that goes straight to NIL, with the total amount of $5 million dollars split among the four teams.

Champion: $1.5M
Second Place: $1.25M
Third Place: $1.15M
Fourth Place: $1.1M

The tournament involves eight teams, split into two groups for pool play:

Impact Group

• Alabama
• Houston
• Rutgers
• Notre Dame

Power Group

• Oregon
• Texas A&M
• Creighton
• San Diego State

There will be two days of pool play on Nov. 26-27, then Championship Day on Nov. 30.

The format for the groups is the same. Each team plays two games in its group, and after Wednesday’s games are completed, each group will be seeded one through four. Seeding will be determined by overall record. In the event of a tie, seeding will be determined by, in order:

1. Head-to-head record
2. Total point differential of both games played in the group, with a cap of plus or minus 20 per game
3. Total points scored
4. Total points allowed  

Here’s a look at the teams playing in Vegas:

Impact

Alabama Crimson Tide

Record: 4-1 (25-12 last season)

2023-24 Postseason finish: Final Four

Player to watch: Labaron Philon (12.8 ppg, 5.2 apg, 4.2 rpg.)

What to know

The Alabama Crimson Tide won’t be sneaking up on anybody this season. Sandwiched between games vs. Purdue and North Carolina is a trip to Las Vegas for this unique tournament.

In last season’s early-season tournament, the Crimson Tide finished third in the Emerald Isle Coast Classic.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Record: 4-1 (15-17 last season)

2023-24 Postseason finish: Big Ten tournament first round

Player to watch: Dylan Harper (19.8 ppg, 5.2 apg.)

What to know

A trendy pick to make some noise not just in the Big Ten, but in March Madness, the Scarlet Knights dropped 79-77 stunner to the Kennesaw State Owls. A win or two this week in Vegas could erase the one major blemish on their young tournament resume.

Houston Cougars

Record: 3-1 (32-5 last season)

2023-24 Postseason finish: Sweet 16

Player to watch: Milos Uzan (8.8 ppg, 6.3 apg, 4.5 rpg.)

What to know

The Houston Cougars are looking to win an early season tournament for the second-straight season. Last year, the Cougars were champions of the Charleston Classic, beating Dayton in the final.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Record: 4-1 (13-20 last season)

2023-24 Postseason finish: ACC tournament second round

Player to watch: Markus Burton (21.4 ppg, 5.2 apg.)

What to know

Although the Fighting Irish finished at the bottom of the standings in the ACC in Micah Shrewsberry’s first season as head coach, the Irish have been seeing success in recruiting. Notre Dame ranks No. 6 in the 247 composite rankings for the class of 2025.

Power

San Diego State Aztecs

Record: 2-1 (26-11 last season)

2023-24 Postseason finish: Sweet 16

Player to watch: Nick Boyd (14.7 ppg, 2.7 apg.)

What to know

Like Houston, the San Diego State Aztecs are looking to win an early-season tournament for the second-straight season. Last year, the Aztecs were champions of the Continental Tire Main Event, beating Washington in the final.

Creighton Bluejays

Record: 4-1 (25-10 last season)

2023-24 Postseason finish: Sweet 16

Player to watch: Ryan Kalkbrenner (21.4 ppg, 87.2 field goal pct.)

What to know

The Bluejays meet the Aztecs in the opening game of this tournament, it’s the first meeting between the two since their 2023 NCAA tournament regional final matchup that saw San Diego State reach their first final four in school history.

Oregon Ducks

Record: 5-0 (24-12 last season)

2023-24 Postseason finish: NCAA tournament second round

Player to watch: Nate Bittle (16.2 ppg. 10.2 rpg.)

What to know

This tournament features the two winningest head coaches in the history of Creighton men’s basketball. No. 1 on the list is current head coach, Greg McDermott. No. 2 on the list? The head coach of the Oregon Ducks, Dana Altman.

Texas A&M Aggies

Record: 4-1 (21-15 last season)

2023-24 Postseason finish: NCAA tournament second round

Player to watch: Wade Taylor IV (14.0 ppg, 4.8 apg.)

What to know

Since dropping their season-opener to UCF, Texas A&M has won their last four games by a margin of 22.2 points.

Game schedule

All times are central

November 26

San Diego State vs. Creighton, 1 p.m. (TBS)
Oregon vs. Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. (TBS)

Houston vs. Alabama, 7 p.m. (TBS)
Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 9:30 p.m. (TBS)

November 27

Oregon vs. San Diego State, 3 p.m. (Max)
Texas A&M vs. Creighton, 6:30 p.m. (Max)

Rutgers vs. Alabama, 9 p.m. (TBS)
Notre Dame vs. Houston, 11:30 p.m. (TBS)

November 30

Championship: Impact 1st vs. Impact 1st, 8:30 p.m.(TNT)
3rd/4th Place: Impact 2nd vs. Power 2nd, 6 p.m. (TNT)
5th/6th Place: Impact 3rd vs. Power 3rd, 2:30 p.m. (TruTV)
7th/8th Place: Impact 4th vs. Power 4th, Noon (TruTV)