SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga men's basketball faces Kansas State in the opening round of the Players Era 16 bracket on Nov. 24, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Zags are guaranteed three games at the tournament, with a possible fourth game being the championship on Nov. 28.
Players Era, an EverWonder Studio company, MGM Resorts International, and ESPN today announced the brackets for the 2026 Players Era Men's Championships, with the Players Era 8 taking place Nov. 17-19, at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and the Players Era 16 Championship set for Nov. 24-28, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and Michelob ULTRA Arena.
The Players Era 16 will culminate with a stand-alone championship game played Nov. 28 at Michelob ULTRA Arena. All 37 games across the two tournaments will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks as part of a new multi-year broadcast agreement between Players Era and ESPN.
Gonzaga and Kansas State meet for the fifth time, but the first since 2013. The Wildcats have won three of the four previous meetings, including the latest, 72-62, at the Wichita Wildcat Classic on Dec. 21, 2013. In 2012, the Bulldogs beat KSU, 68-52, in the Battle in Seattle.
The Wildcats will be under first-year head coach Casey Alexander. Kansas State returns rising sophomore Andrej Kostic and signed 12 new players for the 2026-27 season. The newcomers include 10 Division I transfers (Isaiah Abraham, Matt Gilhool, Dezdrick Lindsay, Timotej Malovec, Pape N'Diaye, Brandon Rechsteiner, JT Rock, Jaden Schutt, Brock Vice and Montana Wheeler) and a pair of top-100 high school prospects (Jaylen Alexander and Devin Hutcherson).
Kostic saw action in 23 games as a true freshman in 2025-26, averaging 5.2 points on 37.7 percent shooting (40-of-106), including 37.5 percent (30-of-80) from 3-point range, with 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.7 minutes per game. He scored in double figures three times.
Gonzaga's second opponent at the 2026 Players Era will be either Alabama or Baylor on Nov. 26. The Zags opened last year's Players Era tournament with a 95-85 win over No. 8 Alabama. GU then beat Maryland, before falling to No. 7 Michigan in the championship game.
The Players Era 16 will be divided into two eight-team brackets with the teams emerging from each side meeting for the Championship Game Nov. 28.
One bracket will feature four opening round matchups on Nov. 24, including Tennessee against Maryland, San Diego State vs. Iowa State, St. John's facing Oregon, and Louisville taking on Texas Tech. In first round action in the other the bracket, Gonzaga will face Kansas State, Baylor will take on Alabama, Michigan will play Creighton, and TCU will play Miami (FL).
Following an off day on Nov. 25, tournament play will resume on Thanksgiving Day with four semifinal and four consolation games. The bracket championships and third, fifth and seventh-place matchups will take place Nov. 27, and the Players Era 16 Championship Game will be on Nov. 28, at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Additional information about ticket on-sale dates and broadcast networks will be announced soon.
Players Era 8 | Tuesday-Thursday, November 17-19 at Michelob ULTRA Arena
Tuesday, Nov. 17 – Opening Round Games (All times TBD)
Houston vs. Rutgers
Florida vs. Notre Dame
West Virginia vs. Auburn
Kansas vs. UNLV
Wednesday, Nov. 18 (All times TBD)
Semifinal #1 - WINNER (Houston/Rutgers) vs. WINNER (Florida/Notre Dame)
Semifinal #2 - WINNER (West Virginia/Auburn) vs. WINNER (Kansas/UNLV)
Consolation #1
Consolation #2
Thursday, Nov. 19 (All times TBD)
Championship Game
Third-Place Game
Consolation #3
Consolation #4
Players Era 16 | Tuesday-Saturday, November 24-28 at T-Mobile Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena
Tuesday, Nov. 24 – Opening Round Games (All times TBD)
Tennessee vs. Maryland
San Diego State vs. Iowa State
St. John's vs. Oregon
Louisville vs. Texas Tech
Gonzaga vs. Kansas State
Baylor vs. Alabama
Michigan vs. Creighton
TCU vs. Miami (FL)
Wednesday, Nov. 25
No games scheduled
Thursday, Nov. 26 (All times TBD)
Semifinal #1 - WINNER (Tennessee/Maryland) vs. WINNER (San Diego State/Iowa State)
Semifinal #2 - WINNER (St. John's/Oregon) vs. WINNER (Louisville/Texas Tech)
Consolation #1
Consolation #2
Semifinal #3- WINNER (Gonzaga/Kansas State) vs. WINNER (Baylor/Alabama)
Semifinal #4 - WINNER (Michigan/Creighton) vs. WINNER (TCU/Miami)
Consolation #3
Consolation #4
Friday, Nov. 27 (All times TBD)
Bracket #1 Champ – WINNER Semifinal #1 vs. WINNER Semifinal #2
Bracket #2 Champ – WINNER Semifinal #3 vs. WINNER Semifinal #4
Bracket #1 Third Place
Bracket #1 Fifth Place
Bracket #1 Seventh Place
Bracket #2 Third Place
Bracket #2 Fifth Place
Bracket #2 Seventh Place
Saturday, Nov. 28 (Time TBD)
Players Era 16 Championship Game (Michelob ULTRA Arena)
