![The newly launched 16-team College Basketball Crown tournament has partnered with Vivid Seats to provide Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money to the winners, runners-up, and semifinalists. The postseason event aims to add more college basketball action for fans while giving smaller-market programs another opportunity to compete after March. College Sports Network's CBB Power Rankings analyze every team's strength in a proprietary ranking system, from No. 1 to No. 364. Who are the real contenders? New College Basketball Crown Tournament Offers NIL Payouts, Added Competition Via John Fanta, the tournament’s NIL pool is set up as follows: The champions will receive a $300,000 NIL package, the runners-up will earn $100,000, and the semifinalists will take home $50,000 each. Since NIL rules were introduced in 2021, college sports programs have had to rethink how they support and retain athletes. This new tournament fills the gap between the Elite Eight and Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, offering fans more college hoops to enjoy during the March Madness lull. [adslot] Which Teams Are Playing in the College Basketball Crown? The Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 conferences each receive two automatic qualifiers, while the remaining teams are selected at-large by a committee. This year’s field includes: Left side of the bracket: Butler vs Utah George Washington vs Boise State Nebraska vs Arizona State Georgetown vs Washington State The bracket of the College Basketball Crown tournament that will be featured on Fox and FS1. Right side of the bracket: DePaul vs Cincinnati Oregon State vs UCF Colorado vs Villanova Tulane vs USC [adslot] Crown Tournament Schedule First Round: 3/31 - 4/01 Second Round/Quarterfinal: 4/02 - 4/03 Third Round/Semifinal: 4/05 Championship Game: 4/06 Tournament Outlook Games will be held in Las Vegas, with the opening rounds played at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The semifinals and championship will move to T-Mobile Arena. Players from several of the participating schools have voiced excitement about the opportunity. The NIL incentives offered through the Vivid Seats partnership have added appeal—not just for this year’s teams but for future editions of the tournament. MORE: Crown vs. NIT: Breaking Down the Key Differences The College Basketball Crown could quickly grow into a staple of the college basketball postseason, giving schools added exposure and fans one more reason to stay tuned in before the season wraps up.](https://collegefootballnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cincinnati-Basketball-Crown-Tournament-1920x1280.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Big 12 Conference Tournament Second Round - Cincinnati vs Iowa State")
The newly launched 16-team College Basketball Crown tournament has partnered with Vivid Seats to provide Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money to the winners, runners-up, and semifinalists. The postseason event aims to add more college basketball action for fans while giving smaller-market programs another opportunity to compete after March.
New College Basketball Crown Tournament Offers NIL Payouts, Added Competition
Via John Fanta, the tournament’s NIL pool is set up as follows: The champions will receive a $300,000 NIL package, the runners-up will earn $100,000, and the semifinalists will take home $50,000 each.
Since NIL rules were introduced in 2021, college sports programs have had to rethink how they support and retain athletes. This new tournament fills the gap between the Elite Eight and Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, offering fans more college hoops to enjoy during the March Madness lull.
Which Teams Are Playing in the College Basketball Crown?
The Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 conferences each receive two automatic qualifiers, while the remaining teams are selected at-large by a committee. This year’s field includes:
Left side of the bracket:
- Butler vs Utah
- George Washington vs Boise State
- Nebraska vs Arizona State
- Georgetown vs Washington State
Right side of the bracket:
- DePaul vs Cincinnati
- Oregon State vs UCF
- Colorado vs Villanova
- Tulane vs USC
Crown Tournament Schedule
- First Round: 3/31 – 4/01
- Second Round/Quarterfinal: 4/02 – 4/03
- Third Round/Semifinal: 4/05
- Championship Game: 4/06
Tournament Outlook
Games will be held in Las Vegas, with the opening rounds played at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The semifinals and championship will move to T-Mobile Arena.
Players from several of the participating schools have voiced excitement about the opportunity. The NIL incentives offered through the Vivid Seats partnership have added appeal—not just for this year’s teams but for future editions of the tournament.
MORE: Crown vs. NIT: Breaking Down the Key Differences
The College Basketball Crown could quickly grow into a staple of the college basketball postseason, giving schools added exposure and fans one more reason to stay tuned in before the season wraps up.
