Ranking College Basketball Tournaments for the Big 12 in 2025-26

So far, 11 of the 16 Big 12 men’s basketball teams have lined up non-conference tournament in November later this year.

Also called multi-team events, these tournaments give teams the chance to get multiple games at the same site without extra travel.

Blogging the Bracket is publishing a running list of the MTEs (Multi-Team Events) that have been scheduled based on reporting, as most Division I schedules aren’t made yet. In fact, most conference schedules won’t be announced until at least August.

But, for now, we rank each of the MTE’s that Big 12 teams are reportedly involved in.

1. Players Era Festival

Set for Nov. 24-30 in Las Vegas, it’s the runaway winner here. Baylor, Houston, Iowa State and Kansas have all been invited to the tournament that features an NIL component. Houston played in the tournament last year and lost two games.

That’s because the field is brutal — Alabama, Auburn, Creighton, Gonzaga, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, St. John’s, Saint Joseph’s, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV.

If last year’s format is used, each Big 12 team is going to get three significant tests while in Sin City over the Thanksgiving holiday.

2. Rady Children’s Invitational

Set for Nov. 27-28 in San Diego, this one features the defending national champions, the Florida Gators, along with a pair of tough programs in Providence and Wisconsin. The fourth team is TCU, which is remaking its roster after a bumpy offseason in the transfer portal. This should be a great event for late-night hoops watchers.

3. Shriners Hospitals Charleston Classic

The event will be played before Thanksgiving in Charleston, S.C. It features three NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago in Clemson, Georgia and Xavier, along with one team that should have been an NCAA Tournament team in West Virginia. Each team is guaranteed two games. Like the Rady Children’s Invitation, everyone is going to get tested.

4. Hall of Fame Classic

Set for Nov. 20-21 in Kansas City, this is one of the most balanced four-team MTE’s you are likely to find. Kansas State could face Mississippi State, Nebraska or New Mexico as each team is guaranteed two games. None of these teams jump off the page, but it should be highly competitive.

5. Acrisure Series

Played in Palm Desert, Calif., from Nov. 25-28, Colorado and Utah are the Big 12 teams committed to the event, which features a huge field, like the Players Era.

It’s not known who Colorado or Utah will play, but the rest of the field includes Cal Baptist, Grand Canyon, Iowa, Loyola Chicago, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Nevada, Northern Iowa, Saint Louis, San Diego, San José State, Santa Clara, Stanford, Tulsa and Washington.

It’s an intriguing mix of power programs and dangerous mid-majors. It’s hard to determine the competitiveness until brackets are released.

6. Maui Invitational

Set for Nov. 24-26 in Lahaina, Hawai‘i, this used to be the gold standard for pre-Thanksgiving Tournament. This year the field feels lacking. Arizona State is the Big 12 entrant, along with Boise State, NC State, Seton Hall, Texas, USC, Washington State and Division II host Chaminade.

7. ESPN Events Invitational

Set for Nov. 27-28 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., this looks like the weakest field among the MTE’s that are reportedly set up. To me, BYU and Dayton are the best teams here and should meet in a game the second day, assuming both win their first games. The rest of the field is Georgetown and Miami (FL).