Wolverine Digest

Michigan set to join $24 million NIL tournament in 2025

Chris Breiler|
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Michigan Wolverines

The Michigan Wolverines are one of ten new teams set to join the Players Era Tournament in 2025. The tournament, which debuted in the fall of 2024 in Las Vegas, paid out a reported $9 million in NIL to members of the previous teams that participated. In 2025, that field is expanding to include the following teams:

  1. Alabama
  2. Auburn
  3. Baylor
  4. Creighton
  5. Gonzaga
  6. Houston
  7. Iowa State
  8. Kansas
  9. Michigan
  10. Notre Dame
  11. Oregon
  12. Rutgers
  13. San Diego State
  14. St. Joes
  15. St. Johns
  16. Syracuse
  17. Tennessee
  18. Texas A&M

With the field expanding, the NIL payout will reportedly increase to $24 million in 2025. Here's more info via the Players Era tournament website:

The Players Era Festival is a week-long celebration of college basketball, taking place Thanksgiving week in Las Vegas, featuring elite players, teams and coaches. In addition to an innovative format designed to invigorate early season tournament competition before the start of conference play, there will also be financial education programs, and multiple on-call NIL opportunities for players.

The Players Era Festival is committed to providing $9 Million in NIL to college basketball players in 2024 for their engagement in activities separate and apart from competition, and more than $50 million in NIL over the next three years. For these NIL payments, players will perform services and activities fully compliant with current NCAA regulations. 

Dusty May, Michigan Basketball
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Michigan head basketball coach Dusty May recently expressed his excitement for joining the next tournament.

"Michigan is excited to participate in the Players Era event," May said. "This forward thinking MTE will provide our University and student athletes wonderful new opportunities"

For more information about the tournament itself, you can visit PlayersEra.com or click here.

Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

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Chris Breiler
CHRIS BREILER

Christopher Breiler launched Winged Helmet Media and began covering the Michigan Football program in an unofficial capacity in 2017. He then joined Wolverine Digest as part of the FanNation network in 2021 as a contributing writer, where he served as both a writer and a photographer on game days. In 2024, he took over as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI. His love for Michigan Football brought him into the industry, and his passion for being a content creator has led to some amazing experiences along the way.

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