Kansas State men’s basketball has received an invitation to participate in the expanded 2026 Players Era Men’s Championship Field, which will take place in Las Vegas, Nev., during the Thanksgiving Week.
“We are excited about the opportunity to play in the Players Era next season,” said head coach Jerome Tang. “It has become the preeminent in-season tournament for college basketball, and we can’t wait for our players to enjoy a top-notch experience in the Entertainment Capital of the World – Las Vegas.”
K-State joins TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia in the expanded 32-team Players Era field, alongside existing Big 12 participants in Baylor, Houston, Kansas and Iowa State. The Big 12 and the Players Era recently announced a first-of-its-kind partnership that guarantees the Big 12 with eight teams in next year’s expanded tournament field.
After debuting with eight teams for its inaugural tournament in 2024, the Players Era Men’s Championship expanded to 18 teams for the 2025 edition. Oregon won the first tournament championship over Alabama in 2024, while Michigan defeated Gonzaga this past season.
