College basketball fans are gaining a new opportunity to win significant cash prizes through a bracket challenge tied to the Players Era festival.
“USA TODAY Sports exclusively reports” that the tournament is offering a $1 million prize for anyone who correctly predicts all 37 games in its bracket challenge.
The event, which has grown rapidly over three years, features a 24-team field split into two separate competitions.
The Players Era 8 tournament is scheduled for Nov. 17-19, followed by the Players Era 16 running from Nov. 24-28, “according to the tournament organizers.”
Participants who submit a perfect bracket will claim the $1 million prize, though the pot will be shared if multiple entrants achieve the feat.
The contest also provides rewards for the first, second and third-place finishers even if no perfect bracket is submitted, “as stated by the event officials.”
A separate challenge exists for the Players Era 16 portion of the event, where picking all 25 games correctly yields a $250,000 prize.
The deadline to submit picks for these challenges is before each tournament tips off.
The 2026 edition of the event marks its largest field to date, shifting to a bracket-style format to determine a champion.
Half of the participating teams are currently ranked in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, including No. 1 Florida and No. 8 Houston, “the outlets reported.”
Other notable ranked teams in the field include Louisville, Gonzaga, St. John’s, Kansas, Alabama, Texas Tech, Miami, Michigan and Iowa State.
The event has established itself as a premier multi-team event in the college basketball landscape.
Fans interested in participating must navigate the specific rules for both the 8-team and 16-team segments to remain eligible for the prizes.
The organizers confirmed the tournament structure is designed to engage fans throughout the early-season schedule.
The competition remains open to the public until the start of the respective games.