Opening‑Round Matchups
K‑State, representing the Big 12, is placed in Bracket #2 and will begin its campaign against Gonzaga on November 24. Should the Wildcats advance, they are slated to meet either Alabama or Baylor in a second‑round game scheduled for November 26, keeping the path to the championship open and unpredictable.
Ticket sales will kick off with a public pre‑sale on July 16, followed by a general on‑sale on July 17, giving fans a clear window to purchase seats for the opening‑round contests and the championship night at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Championship Night
The tournament will culminate with the championship game at 9:30 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, November 28. All games will be broadcast across the ESPN family of networks, ensuring wide‑reaching coverage for viewers across the country.
The expanded 24‑team format includes a parallel Players Era 8 tournament the week of November 16‑20, which will also feature Big 12 members Houston, Kansas and West Virginia. This structure reflects a partnership between the Big 12 and the Players Era that guarantees eight conference teams a spot in the overall event.
Past editions have already set a high bar for competition, with Oregon capturing the 2024 championship over Alabama and Michigan defeating Gonzaga in the most recent final. Those moments add a layer of excitement as the new field prepares to write its own chapter in the tournament's history.