Kansas men's basketball commits to Players Era Festival through 2030-31

ESPN NCAAM1 min read • Latest: Aug 4, 2026, 3:01 PM

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

Kansas men's basketball commits to Players Era Festival through 2030-31
Summary

Kansas has signed a five-year contract to participate in the Players Era Festival, which runs through the 2030-31 season. The event, launched in 2024, emphasizes financial support for student-athletes' name, image, and likeness funds, guaranteeing each participant at least $1 million. In the most recent tournament, the Jayhawks secured third place against Tennessee. This year's competition will feature a split between an eight-team and a 16-team event in Las Vegas. The ongoing development of the festival aims to enhance early-season matchups and provide lucrative NIL earning opportunities for players.

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  • Kansas signs five-year contract with Players Era Festival.
  • Tournament will run through the 2030-31 season.
  • Kansas secured third place against Tennessee in the last festival.
  • This year's event splits into eight-team and 16-team competitions.
  • At least $1 million guaranteed for each participating school.
Latest Updates
  • 4:18 PMESPN NCAAMPlayers Era Festival inks Kansas through 2030-31
  • 3:01 PMYahoo SportsKansas men's hoops signs a five-year contract to play in the Players Era Festival through 2030-31
What they're saying
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Kansas has signed a five-year contract for the Jayhawks to participate in the Players Era Festival, tying one of college basketball's storied programs to one of the more innovative, forward-thinking tournaments in the sport. The Players Era began in Las Vegas in 2024 with the idea of funneling at least $1 million toward each participating school's name, image and likeness fund. The Jayhawks beat Tennessee in the third-place game of the men's event, while eventual national champion Michigan routed Gonzaga to win the championship.

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Kansas has signed a five-year contract for the Jayhawks to participate in the Players Era Festival, which is expanding to 24 teams spanning two tournaments.

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