Report: Maryland men's basketball finalizing agreement to join Players Era Festival in 2025-26

New Maryland men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams is finalizing an agreement for the program to join the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas next season, per college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein.

Maryland is expected to participate in the 2025 Players Era Festival in Las Vegas in late November. Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, St. John’s, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV are the teams currently expected to also suit up in the Players Era Festival. Texas A&M, who agreed to join under Buzz Williams, is no longer projected to face in the early season tournament.

Many of the teams slated to suit up in 2025 are also expected to play in 2026, though the format has yet to be finalized. While a sponsor has yet to be announced, the tournament was created to give the winner at least $1 million in NIL while 32 teams are expected to join the field in 2026-27. The tournament paid $9 million in NIL to eight teams participating in 2025, giving Buzz Williams a chance to capitalize on the pot.

Maryland men’s basketball already had a handful of marquee games set on the 2025-26 schedule with a home game against Georgetown and road game against Marquette, but new head coach Buzz Williams also reportedly snuck in another tournament.

Still, Williams is working on restocking the roster after former Texas A&M guard Andre Mills became the fifth portal commit of the offseason, joining David Coit (Kansas), Pharrel Payne (Texas A&M), Solomon Washington (Texas A&M) and Myles Rice (Indiana).

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