GREATER PALM SPRINGS, Calif.—Twenty-six Division I men’s basketball programs will play 26 games over six days at Acrisure Arena from Saturday, Nov. 21, through Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, when the 2026 Acrisure Series returns to the Coachella Valley.
Organizers bill it as the nation’s premier Thanksgiving week college basketball event, and this year’s field includes Power 4 programs Arizona State, Colorado, LSU, SMU, South Carolina, Stanford and USC. Defending champion Stanford is back for a third straight year, looking to repeat after a buzzer-beating title run in 2025.
Looking back: Stanford’s 2025 title and a trophy from Keith Dudum
Stanford left Acrisure Arena with a trophy last November after beating Minnesota 72-68 and then edging Saint Louis 78-77 in the championship game on Nov. 28, 2025. Benny Gealer won it with a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left, following an intentionally missed free throw.
The title was the Cardinal’s first multi-team event championship since the 2007 Basketball Travelers Classic. Chisom Okpara led Stanford with 19 points in the final, and Ebuka Okorie added 17.
After the game, Keith Dudum of Dudum Financial presented the championship trophy to the Cardinal. The moment, pictured above, shows Stanford’s players crowding around the cup and celebrating the program’s breakthrough win in the desert.
The 2026 field
The 26-team field is drawn from coast to coast: Arizona State, California Baptist, Colorado, Fordham, Grand Canyon, Illinois State, Loyola Chicago, Loyola Marymount, LSU, Nevada, Oregon State, Portland, Saint Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, San José State, Santa Clara, Seattle, SMU, South Carolina, Stanford, Tulsa, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, USC and Utah State.
“The Acrisure Series has become one of the premier events in college basketball, and we believe this year’s field is the strongest we’ve assembled,” said Dan Shell, president of Total Sports Consulting and co-tournament director.
Stanford opens its four-team pod against Colorado on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 9 p.m., then meets either Grand Canyon or Saint Louis on Wednesday, Nov. 25. That sets up a possible rematch of last year’s title game against the Billikens. Stanford’s entire pod will air on CBS Sports Network.
Schedule
All times Pacific. Thanksgiving Day closes with three high-major matchups: South Carolina vs. Arizona State, Utah State vs. USC, and SMU vs. LSU.
Day Time (PT) Matchup Sat., Nov. 21 11:00 a.m. Fordham vs. Portland Sat., Nov. 21 1:30 p.m. UC Irvine vs. San Diego Sat., Nov. 21 4:00 p.m. California Baptist vs. Loyola Marymount Sun., Nov. 22 11:00 a.m. San Diego vs. Fordham Sun., Nov. 22 1:30 p.m. UC Irvine vs. Loyola Marymount Sun., Nov. 22 4:00 p.m. California Baptist vs. Portland Sun., Nov. 22 6:30 p.m. Seattle vs. UC San Diego Sun., Nov. 22 9:00 p.m. San José State vs. Loyola Chicago Mon., Nov. 23 11:00 a.m. Tulsa vs. Oregon State Mon., Nov. 23 1:30 p.m. Nevada vs. San Francisco Mon., Nov. 23 4:00 p.m. Illinois State vs. Santa Clara Mon., Nov. 23 6:30 p.m. Pod 4 Championship Mon., Nov. 23 9:00 p.m. Pod 4 Third-Place Game Tue., Nov. 24 11:00 a.m. Oregon State vs. San Francisco Tue., Nov. 24 1:30 p.m. Tulsa vs. Illinois State Tue., Nov. 24 4:00 p.m. Nevada vs. Santa Clara Tue., Nov. 24 6:30 p.m. Grand Canyon vs. Saint Louis Tue., Nov. 24 9:00 p.m. Stanford vs. Colorado Wed., Nov. 25 11:00 a.m. Arizona State vs. LSU Wed., Nov. 25 1:30 p.m. USC vs. South Carolina Wed., Nov. 25 4:00 p.m. SMU vs. Utah State Wed., Nov. 25 6:30 p.m. Pod 2 Championship Wed., Nov. 25 9:00 p.m. Pod 2 Third-Place Game Thu., Nov. 26 11:00 a.m. South Carolina vs. Arizona State Thu., Nov. 26 1:30 p.m. Utah State vs. USC Thu., Nov. 26 4:00 p.m. SMU vs. LSU
Tickets and travel
Tickets start at $25 plus fees and are available at Ticketmaster.com and the Ticketmaster Box Office at Acrisure Arena. Premium hospitality, courtside seats, suites and group packages are also offered.
La Quinta Resort & Club and JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa are the official partner hotels, and both host the participating teams. The 2026 Acrisure Series is presented by Acrisure, Visit Greater Palm Springs and Spotlight 29 Casino.
Sources
- Acrisure Arena: 2026 Acrisure Series returns November 21-26
- Stanford Athletics: Cardinal Set to Play in Acrisure Series
- Stanford Athletics: Card Meets Saint Louis in Acrisure Invitational Championship Game
- ABC7 / AP: Gealer hits 3-pointer with 0.8 left to put Stanford over Saint Louis
- CBS Sports: Stanford vs. Saint Louis box score
