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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13.8px;"><b>BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – May 21, 2026</b></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; color: black;"><b>Baylor MBB to Compete in 2026 Players Era Men’s Championship Nov. 24-28</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; color: black; background-color: white;"><b><i>BU to open tournament against Alabama in Las Vegas</i></b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>For more information contact:
</b>Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720, </span><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(150, 96, 125);"><a href="mailto:josie_hutton@baylor.edu" data-outlook-id="8ae11722-5bed-42db-b4f3-5a7d470f83d2" style="color: rgb(150, 96, 125); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><u>josie_hutton@baylor.edu</u></a></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>LAS VEGAS –</b> Players Era, an EverWonder Studio company, MGM Resorts International, and ESPN announced Thursday the brackets for the 2026 Players Era Men's Championships,
with Baylor men's basketball set to open the Players Era 16 Championship against Alabama on Nov. 24.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Players Era 16 Championship is set for Tuesday-Saturday, Nov. 24-28, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and Michelob ULTRA Arena. The Players Era 16 will culminate with a standalone
championship game Saturday, Nov. 28, at Michelob ULTRA Arena. All 37 games across the two tournaments will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks as part of a new multi-year broadcast agreement between Players Era and ESPN.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Baylor was one of four Big 12 teams that competed in the 2025 Players Era, going 2-1 with wins against Creighton and San Diego State. The 2026 edition is shaping up to be a
big non-conference test, including 13 teams that made the 2026 NCAA Tournament.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In addition to the last two national champions, Florida, ranked No. 1 in
</span><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(150, 96, 125);"><a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48609697/mens-ncaa-basketball-2026-27-way-too-early-top-25-rankings-transfer-portal" data-outlook-id="338b3038-af09-41b4-8045-f08ce0708717" style="color: rgb(150, 96, 125); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><u>ESPN.com's
2026-27 Way Too Early Top 25 Rankings</u></a></span><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, and Michigan (No. 3), the field includes Alabama (No. 8), Tennessee (No. 11), Houston (No. 12), Louisville (No. 15), Iowa
State (No. 18), St. John's (No. 19), Miami (No. 21) and Gonzaga (No. 24). Overall, the 2026 field accounts for 27 NCAA Tournament appearances over the past two years. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Baylor will go up against the Crimson Tide for the 10th time in program history and the first time since 2022. Following an off day Wednesday, Nov. 25, tournament play will
resume on Thanksgiving Day with four semifinal and four consolation games, with Baylor to play against either Gonzaga or Kansas State.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The bracket championships and third-, fifth- and seventh-place matchups will take place Friday, Nov. 27, and the Players Era 16 Championship Game will be Saturday, Nov. 28,
at Michelob ULTRA Arena.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Additional information about ticket on-sale dates and broadcast networks will be announced at a later date.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>2026 PLAYERS ERA 16 AT T-MOBILE ARENA AND MICHELOB ULTRA ARENA</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Tuesday, Nov. 24 – Opening Round Games (All times TBD)</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tennessee vs. Maryland</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">San Diego State vs. Iowa State</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">St. John’s vs. Oregon</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Louisville vs. Texas Tech</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Gonzaga vs. Kansas State</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Baylor vs. Alabama</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Michigan vs. Creighton</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">TCU vs. Miami (FL)</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Wednesday, Nov. 25</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">No games scheduled</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Thursday, Nov. 26 (All times TBD)</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Semifinal #1 - WINNER (Tennessee/Maryland) vs. WINNER (San Diego State/Iowa State)</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Semifinal #2 - WINNER (St. John’s/Oregon) vs. WINNER (Louisville/Texas Tech)</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Consolation #1</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Consolation #2</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Semifinal #3- WINNER (Gonzaga/Kansas State) vs. WINNER (Baylor/Alabama)</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Semifinal #4 - WINNER (Michigan/Creighton) vs. WINNER (TCU/Miami)</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Consolation #3</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Consolation #4</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Friday, Nov. 27 (All times TBD)</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bracket #1 Champ – WINNER Semifinal #1 vs. WINNER Semifinal #2</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bracket #2 Champ – WINNER Semifinal #3 vs. WINNER Semifinal #4</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bracket #1 Third Place</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bracket #1 Fifth Place</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bracket #1 Seventh Place</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bracket #2 Third Place</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bracket #2 Fifth Place</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bracket #2 Seventh Place</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Saturday, Nov. 28 (Time TBD)</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Players Era 16 Championship Game (Michelob ULTRA Arena)</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i> - BaylorBears</i></span><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: black;"><i><u>.com</u> -</i></span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(15, 92, 26);"><b>Josie Hutton</b></span><span style="color: black;"> | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (MBB, FB, MTEN) </span></div>
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Department of Athletics | Baylor University</div>
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C: (254) 709-7720</div>
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