This Thanksgiving season, tournament-style basketball is taking on a new form for Alabama basketball. As part of the elite “Celebration Week,” a new tournament is making its debut as part of the holiday game.

This new tournament, the Players Era Festival, takes place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where teams compete for the chance to win certain NIL payouts.

The winning team of this tournament will receive $9 million in NIL for the 2024 competition, and although pay-for-play tournaments violate NCAA regulations, each participating team will receive $1 million in NIL payouts. This is possible through the teams’ actions to “engage in side events that are separate and distinct from the team’s participation in the Festival Games.”

Student-athletes who emerge victorious will receive $50 million in NIL over the next three years.

Teams playing in Vegas beginning Nov. 26 include No. 8 Houston, No. 13 Creighton, No. 22 Texas A&M, San Diego State, Notre Dame, Oregon and Rutgers.

There are millions at stake for teams and players, but just winning the tournament doesn’t guarantee players any money. NIL payouts come from player services and activities, all of which are sanctioned by current NCAA regulations.

Due to a recent format change, the games on November 26th and 27th will now be played as group games, with Power and Impact being the two divisions. Alabama, Houston and Rutgers are considered the “anchors” of this tournament and together with Notre Dame make up the Impact Division. The power division includes the remaining teams: San Diego State, Oregon, Texas A&M and Creighton.

The game between the two divisions will take place within two days and the results will determine the seeding for the championship game on November 30th. Championship Day will have the following format to ensure the Power and Impact divisions compete:

Game for 7th place: Impact 4 Seed vs. Power 4 Seed
Match for 5th place: Impact 3 Seed vs. Power 3 Seed
Game for 3rd place: Impact 2 Seed vs. Power 2 Seed
Game for 1st place: Impact 1 Seed vs. Power 1 Seed

More detailed information about seeding and divisional play can be found on the event website.

Ranking, points scored and points allowed will be crucial factors in tournament play to determine placement and group lineup.

Although the tournament was criticized by the NCAA, all payouts are subject to college basketball and NIL regulations. The success of the Players Era tournament could revolutionize college basketball and NIL in the future, providing opportunities for hard-working, high-performing teams.