Players Era Thanksgiving Festival Kicks Off in Las Vegas

The inaugural Players Era Thanksgiving Festival begins today at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas, featuring eight teams including Alabama, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame. This tournament is unique, offering $9 million in NIL guarantees to participating teams, with each program set to receive $1 million in NIL opportunities. Notre Dame and Rutgers will kick off the festival tonight, while Creighton faces San Diego State on November 26, with Creighton's Steven Ashworth likely out due to injury. The tournament features a two-bracket format, and teams will play additional matches to secure their seeding for the finals. Rutgers aims to improve its record and earn a victory over ACC teams for the first time since 2021. San Diego State's strong defense will be tested against Creighton, with both teams looking to build momentum in this early-season showcase.