Men's Basketball to Face Portland and San Diego in 2026 Acrisure Series
 
Rams open play on Nov. 21 in Palm Springs
 
GREATER PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (August 6, 2026) – The 2026 Acrisure Series, the nation's premier Thanksgiving college basketball event, returns to the Coachella Valley this November bringing together 26 Division I programs for 26 games over six days at Acrisure Arena from November 21-26, 2026. The 2026 Acrisure Series is presented by Acrisure, Visit Greater Palm Springs and Spotlight 29 Casino.
 
The Rams will kickoff the series on Saturday, November 21, with a game against Portland and then face San Diego the next day.  Both games will start at 1:00 p.m. (EST)
 
The 2026 field features one of the deepest collections of programs assembled anywhere in the country during Thanksgiving week, including 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.

College basketball fans will experience elite matchups, championship games, alumni gatherings, premium hospitality experiences, and one of the sport's premier Thanksgiving week traditions in the heart of Greater Palm Springs. The event features 26 games beginning Saturday, November 21, highlighted by marquee matchups including Stanford vs. Colorado, Grand Canyon vs. Saint Louis, USC vs. South Carolina, Arizona State vs. LSU, SMU vs. Utah State, as well as Thanksgiving Day contests featuring Utah State vs. USC, SMU vs. LSU, and South Carolina vs. Arizona 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. "Bringing together 26 outstanding programs for six consecutive days creates an incredible experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans while continuing to establish Greater Palm Springs as one of the country's premier destinations for Thanksgiving college basketball. We are grateful to Acrisure, Visit Greater Palm Springs, Spotlight 29 Casino, Acrisure Arena and all of our partners for helping make this event possible."
 

Tickets for the 2026 Acrisure Series Thanksgiving Event start at $25 plus fees and go on sale Saturday, August 8 at 10:00 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster.com, the official ticketing provider of Acrisure Arena, and are also available at the Ticketmaster Box Office at Acrisure Arena. Exclusive presale opportunities for Acrisure Arena club members begin today. 

 
"Sponsoring the Acrisure Series reflects our continued commitment to excellence, community engagement and creating memorable experiences," said Greg Williams, Chairman and CEO of Acrisure. "This event showcases elite collegiate basketball while bringing thousands of visitors to the Coachella Valley and continuing to elevate Acrisure Arena as one of the nation's premier destinations for major sporting events."
 
"The Acrisure Series has become one of the signature sporting events in Greater Palm Springs," said Scott White, President & CEO of Visit Greater Palm Springs. "Each November we welcome thousands of alumni, fans, families, and visitors from across the country, generating significant economic impact while showcasing everything our destination has to offer. We're excited to welcome another outstanding field this Thanksgiving."
 
"The Tribe has always believed in supporting events that strengthen our community and bring visitors to the Coachella Valley," said Darrell Mike, Chairman of Spotlight 29 Casino. "We're proud to continue our partnership with the Acrisure Series and help make Greater Palm Springs one of the premier destinations for college basketball."
 
2026 Acrisure Series Event Schedule
 
Saturday, November 21
11:00 a.m. PT – Fordham vs. Portland
1:30 p.m. PT – UC Irvine vs. San Diego
4:00 p.m. PT – California Baptist vs. Loyola Marymount
 
Sunday, November 22
11:00 a.m. PT – San Diego vs. Fordham
1:30 p.m. PT – UC Irvine vs. Loyola Marymount
4:00 p.m. PT – California Baptist vs. Portland
6:30 p.m. PT – Seattle vs. UC San Diego
9:00 p.m. PT – San José State vs. Loyola Chicago
 
Monday, November 23
11:00 a.m. PT – Tulsa vs. Oregon State
1:30 p.m. PT – Nevada vs. San Francisco
4:00 p.m. PT – Illinois State vs. Santa Clara
6:30 p.m. PT – Pod 4 Championship
9:00 p.m. PT – Pod 4 Third-Place Game
 
Tuesday, November 24
11:00 a.m. PT – Oregon State vs. San Francisco
1:30 p.m. PT – Tulsa vs. Illinois State
4:00 p.m. PT – Nevada vs. Santa Clara
6:30 p.m. PT – Grand Canyon vs. Saint Louis
9:00 p.m. PT – Stanford vs. Colorado
 
Wednesday, November 25
11:00 a.m. PT – Arizona State vs. LSU
1:30 p.m. PT – USC vs. South Carolina
4:00 p.m. PT – SMU vs. Utah State
6:30 p.m. PT – Pod 2 Championship
9:00 p.m. PT – Pod 2 Third-Place Game
 
Thursday, November 26
11:00 a.m. PT – South Carolina vs. Arizona State
1:30 p.m. PT – Utah State vs. USC
4:00 p.m. PT – SMU vs. LSU
 
Ticket Information
Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com, the official ticketing provider of Acrisure Arena. Tickets will also be available at the Ticketmaster Box Office at Acrisure Arena. Premium hospitality options, courtside seating, suites, and group sales opportunities will also be available.
 
Partner Hotel Information
Fans traveling to Palm Springs for the 2026 Acrisure Series can now book official partner hotel accommodations at both La Quinta Resort & Club and JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. Both properties serve as premier host hotels for the Acrisure Series and provide fans, alumni, donors, and supporters with a first-class Palm Springs experience throughout the event weekend. These partner hotels are also where participating teams stay, creating a unique opportunity for fans to stay with the teams and be part of the full event atmosphere. Special fan rates are now available through the official booking links attached here, allowing guests to secure preferred pricing while staying at two of the top resort destinations in the Coachella Valley. With luxury accommodations, premium amenities, and close proximity to Acrisure Arena, both properties offer the ideal home base for the weekend.
 
Partner Hotel Fan Rate Links
La Quinta: https://book.passkey.com/go/ThanksgivingFanRate
JW Marriott: https://book.passkey.com/e/51259928
 
Media Credential Requests
If you or someone from your outlet or organization would like to request credentials for this event, please fill out the form HERE.
 
About Acrisure Arena
Opened in December 2022, Acrisure Arena provides the greater Palm Springs area with a premier 11,000+ capacity venue hosting the biggest artists, sporting events, and entertainment experiences in the region. The arena also serves as the home of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Seattle Kraken and the Coachella Valley Lakers, the NBA G-League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers.
 
About Total Sports Consulting
Total Sports Consulting (TSC) is a premier sports event management and consulting company specializing in the creation, operation, and commercialization of high-level collegiate basketball events across the country. TSC works directly with universities, conferences, arenas, broadcast partners, and corporate sponsors to develop and execute nationally recognized neutral-site games, multi-team events, holiday showcases, and championship-level experiences. The company oversees every aspect of event strategy and execution, including scheduling, television partnerships, sponsorship sales, venue operations, team logistics, hospitality, ticketing, and on-site management. TSC also specializes in revenue generation projects for athletic departments, including multimedia rights, naming rights, NIL solutions, coaching representation, and other large-scale sponsorship initiatives. From concept to final buzzer, TSC is focused on delivering first-class events that create value for schools, partners, and fans while continuing to elevate college basketball on a national stage. For more information, visit totalsportsconsulting.com.
 
Event & Media Contacts
Chris Spencer, Tournament Director / chrisbbpromotion@aol.com
Jake Thau, Event Operations / jake.thau@totalsportsconsulting.com
Natalie D'Anna, Media Relations / natalie.danna@totalsportsconsulting.com
Evan Pivnick, Director, Broadcast & Communications / Acrisure Arena / epivnick@cvfirebirds.com
 
Follow on Social Media
Instagram: @AcrisureSeries
X: @AcrisureSeries