Gonzaga reportedly joined Houston, Alabama, and others in loaded 2025 Players Era Festival field

June 12 – Gonzaga will be busy in Battle 4 Atlantis when the inaugural Players Era Festival kicks off in Las Vegas in November, but Mark Few’s program is reportedly one of eight more that will join a crowded 2025 field, according to several reports. reports Wednesday morning.

The new season tournament held during Thanksgiving week is expected to award at least $1 million to participating teams in out-of-competition name, image and likeness opportunities.

Along with the eight teams expected to play in this year’s field – Houston, Alabama, Rutgers, Notre Dame, San Diego State, Texas A&M, Oregon and Creighton – the Zags will join an expanded 2025 field, along with Michigan, Syracuse , St. . John and Saint John.

The tournament is also targeting Duke, Kansas and Virginia as potential options to fill out the 16-team 2025 bracket.

First-round matchups from November’s inaugural Players Era Festival were leaked this morning, pitting Houston vs. Alabama, Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, San Diego State vs. Texas A&M and Oregon vs. Creighton.

Gonzaga’s nonconference and postseason schedules take the Bulldogs to Las Vegas regularly. Along with the annual West Coast Conference tournament held at Orleans Arena, the Zags have made recent trips to Las Vegas for non-conference games against the likes of Duke, UCLA and USC, and played Sweet 16/Elite Eight games against UCLA and UConn in the T-Mobile Arena during the second weekend of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

It’s unclear whether the Players Era Festival will become a mainstay of Gonzaga’s non-conference schedule. The Bulldogs have made regular appearances at the Maui Invitational since 2002 and will play their third Battle 4 Atlantis in November. Gonzaga has also competed twice in the Portland-based Phil Knight Invitational.