The University of Michigan men's basketball team has learned that the Wolverines will open their trip to the 2025 Players Era Festival in Las Vegas with San Diego State on Monday, Nov. 24, and an NCAA rematch against Auburn on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Overall, 18 teams are participating in the second Players Era Festival, which saw Oregon win the inaugural event last season. Including the Ducks defending their 2024 title, U-M, Maryland and Rutgers give the Big Ten four teams in the field.

The remaining field includes Alabama (SEC), Baylor (Big 12), Creighton (Big East), Gonzaga (West Coast), Houston (Big 12), Iowa State (Big 12), Kansas (Big 12), Notre Dame (ACC), St. John's (Big East), Syracuse (ACC), Tennessee (SEC) and UNLV (Mountain West).

Seeding and game designation for U-M's event finale will be determined by each team's two-game record.

In a reunion of Maize and Blue ties, the Wolverines will square off with former assistant Brian Dutcher and his Aztecs in the opener on Nov. 24. In the only other meeting of the series, Dec. 4, 2021, Dutcher — who was on staff during U-M's 1989 national championship run — returned to Ann Arbor and fell 72-58 to the Wolverines.

U-M's second game will be an NCAA rematch with Bruce Pearl's Auburn Tigers on Nov. 25. The Wolverines fell to the Tigers 78-65 in the Sweet 16 — the second meeting in the all-time series. In the first game, U-M won 102-81 at the Fiesta Bowl Classic (Dec. 28, 1993).

The Wolverines return to Las Vegas for the first time since playing in the 2021 Roman Main Event at T-Mobile Arena. After defeating UNLV 74-61 (Nov. 19), U-M split its two games, falling to Arizona 80-61 (Nov. 21).

2025 Players Era Schedule

Nov. 24-27, 2025
Park MGM | Las Vegas, Nevada
(All times Pacific)

Monday, Nov. 24
Game 1: Tennessee vs. Rutgers, 10 a.m.
Game 2: Baylor vs. Creighton, 11 a.m.
Game 3: Kansas vs. Notre Dame, 12:30 p.m.
Game 4: St. John's vs. Iowa State, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Houston vs. Syracuse, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Oregon vs. Auburn, 5 p.m.
Game 7: Alabama vs. Gonzaga, 6:30 p.m.
Game 8: Michigan vs. San Diego State, 7:30 p.m.
Game 9: Maryland vs. UNLV, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 25
Game 10: Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 10 a.m.
Game 11: Iowa State vs. Creighton, 11:30 a.m.
Game 12: Kansas vs. Syracuse, 12:30 p.m.
Game 13: St. John's vs. Baylor, 2 p.m.
Game 14: Houston vs. Tennessee, 3 p.m.
Game 15: Michigan vs. Auburn, 5:30 p.m.
Game 16: Gonzaga vs. Maryland, 6:30 p.m.
Game 17: Oregon vs. San Diego State, 8 p.m.
Game 18: Alabama vs. UNLV, 9 p.m.