Syracuse basketball is one of 18 teams competing in the Sin City at the NIL-driven Players Era Festival surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday, and if the Orange can somehow win this loaded event, it will walk away with $2 million.
In a recent post on X, national analyst Jeff Goodman confirmed that the winner of the 2025 Players Era Festival will pick up a cool $1 million, with second place receiving $500,000, third place getting $300,000 and fourth place landing $200,000.
The money will be as follows, source told @TheFieldOf68 :
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) July 14, 2025
Winner: 1 million
2nd place: $500,000
3rd place: $300,000
4th place: $200,000 https://t.co/dvjis1t2V9
As I've reported in the past, every participant in this Las Vegas-based event will score $1 million for participating. Of course, if the 'Cuse wants to cut down the nets, it will have to spring multiple upsets.
This year's Players Era Festival includes returnees Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers and San Diego State, along with the Orange, Maryland, Auburn, Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, St. John's, Tennessee and UNLV.
Syracuse basketball faces two heavyweights in Las Vegas.
On Monday, Nov. 24, the 'Cuse will face Houston at 6 pm EST from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, according to SU Athletics. The next day, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, Syracuse basketball will play Kansas beginning at 3:30 pm EST and also at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Orange's third opponent is to be determined, and Syracuse basketball will play this game on either Wednesday, Nov. 26, or Thursday, Nov. 27, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. According to the event's X page, Players Era Festival games will air on TNT, truTV and HBO Max.
Introducing November Mania
— Players Era (@Players_Era) July 14, 2025
27 Games, 4 Days, 1 Champion, Las Vegas
Players Era Men's Championship: The biggest in-season event ever🏀
📍Location:
MGM Grand Garden Arena 🎰
Michelob ULTRA Arena Las Vegas 🏟️
📺 TNT Sports, with games broadcast on TNT, truTV, HBO Max pic.twitter.com/v8XNgbdixk
Without even knowing Syracuse basketball's third foe in Vegas, Houston and Kansas both present a huge challenge for a significantly remade 'Cuse roster ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Houston reached the national championship game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament this past spring, and the Cougars are No. 3 overall in ESPN's preseason top 25.
The Jayhawks weren't as dominant last season as they usually are, however, Kansas is still in the preseason rankings from ESPN and CBS Sports, among other national media outlets.
The Orange appears to possess an exciting non-conference docket, with 11 of the team's 13 games known so far. I outlined this in a piece from earlier in the week.
In 2025-26, Syracuse basketball's roster includes two key returnees, six transfers and five incoming freshmen. The 'Cuse 2025 class features multiple four-star prospects and is ranked No. 19 overall on 247Sports.