Tennessee basketball vs Bishop Boswell, Maryland to open Era Festival in Las Vegas

The bracket for the 2026 Players Era Festival has been released, and Tennessee basketball has a familiar face for its opener. The Vols played in the Las Vegas-based event for the first time in 2025 and knocked off Rutgers and Houston before losing to Kansas in the third-place game. Starting on Nov.

24, Tennessee will play Maryland in the first round. Guard Bishop Boswell joined the Terrapins in the transfer portal after spending two seasons with the Vols . A win over Maryland would send Tennessee into the second round against the winner of Iowa State and San Diego State.

The Vols vanquished Iowa State 76-62 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament during their third straight run to the Elite Eight. The Players Era Festival has grown in its third rendition, expanding from 18 to 24 teams. Tennessee is one 13 returning teams from the 2025 tournament, including Iowa State, Kansas, Florida, Alabama, Michigan, Auburn and Houston, among others.

Despite winning its first two games of the tournament last year, Tennessee did not qualify for the championship game due to a lower point differential than Gonzaga and Michigan, who won the event. Tennessee's schedule continues to unfold for the 2026-27 season. The Vols' revealed non-conference opponents include Michigan State , Purdue, NC State and now the Players Era opener against Maryland.