Tip-Off Time for WVU Basketball vs. Auburn in Vegas Announced

WVU basketball now knows its tip-off time for its Players Era Championship debut against Auburn, as the matchup will take place at midnight ET/9 p.m. PST on Nov. 17.

It was revealed West Virginia will open the tournament against Auburn on May 21, an expected development for Ross Hodge and the Mountaineer basketball program.

This came after in a conversation with WV Sports Now at the Pittsburgh stop of the Coaches Caravan, Hodge hinted at assuming the Mountaineers will meet Auburn and he also assumes the Players Era will try to pit the Crown champion and NIT champion against each other every year.

WVU is set to play in the Players Era Eight bracket, which also holds Auburn, Florida, Houston, Kansas, Notre Dame, Rutgers and UNLV. If WVU tops Auburn, the Mountaineers will play the winner of Kansas and UNLV on Nov. 18.

The 2026 Men’s Players Era Championship will be televised nationally by ESPN.

“We are excited to be invited with seven of our Big 12 Conference members to participate in the 2026 Players Era Men’s Championship,” said Hodge in a statement. “The exposure this tournament presents will be beneficial to our program, our University and the state of West Virginia. This has become the biggest in-season tournament in college basketball, and we are thrilled to be a part of this prestigious event.”

After debuting with eight teams for its inaugural tournament in 2024, the Players Era Men’s Championship expanded to 18 teams for the 2025 edition and is expanding the field once again for year three, as the tournament further establishes itself as the preeminent early season men’s college tournament.

“We’re thrilled that four additional Big 12 programs have been added to the elite Players Era field in 2026,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said. “Our partnership creates greater access to one of the premier non-conference events in college basketball, elevating our programs, coaches and student-athletes on a national stage.”

Last time WVU played Auburn, guard Erik Stevenson led the Mountaineers to a win in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge with 31 points.

Find more coverage of WVU basketball at WV Sports Now.