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5 Jaw-Dropping Facts About The Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational: The 2025 Mega-Expansion

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The Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational is set to undergo a monumental transformation, with the 2025 edition of the tournament expanding into a massive, 16-team, three-bracket college basketball extravaganza. This significant expansion, announced in the lead-up to the Thanksgiving holiday, confirms the event's status as a premier early-season NCAA Division I showcase.

Scheduled for November 24–28, 2025, the tournament will feature 20 total games played across five days at the State Farm Field House within the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida. The new format is a radical departure from the traditional eight-team field, injecting unprecedented depth and excitement into the annual Thanksgiving week college basketball schedule.

The Sweet History of the ESPN Events Invitational: From Old Spice to Chocolate Orange

The tournament now known as the Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational has a rich, albeit frequently rebranded, history as a staple of the early-season college basketball calendar. The annual event, which takes place near Orlando, Florida, has long been a proving ground for teams aiming for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

The tournament's lineage dates back to its inaugural year in 2006, where it was first known as the Old Spice Classic. Over the years, it has cycled through several title sponsors and corresponding names, a common practice in college sports invitational events.

  • Old Spice Classic (2006–2012)
  • AdvoCare Invitational (2013–2017)
  • Orlando Invitational (2019)
  • Orlando Classic (Various years)
  • ESPN Events Invitational (Current name before title sponsor)

The current title sponsor, Terry's Chocolate, is famous globally for its iconic Terry's Chocolate Orange. This sponsorship links a beloved holiday treat—perfectly timed for the Thanksgiving week event—with high-stakes college basketball, aiming to enhance the overall fan experience.

A Look at Past Champions and Tournament Success

The event has a history of launching teams toward major NCAA Tournament success. Past winners have often gone on to secure high seeds in March Madness.

  • Florida Gators: Won the 2024 tournament, later securing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Dayton Flyers: A multiple-time champion, with victories in both 2011 and 2021.
  • Florida Atlantic Owls: Claimed the 2023 title in a dominant showing.

The 2025 Mega-Expansion: 16 Teams and Three New Brackets

The most significant news surrounding the Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational is the massive expansion for the 2025 tournament. The field has doubled from the traditional eight teams to a colossal 16, organized into three distinct brackets. This unprecedented format change ensures a high volume of quality matchups throughout the holiday week.

Each of the three brackets will be sponsored by Terry's Chocolate and will feature a mix of high-major programs, mid-major contenders, and recent NCAA Tournament participants, ensuring competitive balance across the entire field. The 16 teams will compete in a total of 20 games over five days.

The Three Brackets of the 2025 Invitational

The 2025 event introduces three creatively named brackets, each featuring a distinct set of teams competing for their own bracket championship. The format is designed to maximize competitive games and television exposure across ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU.

1. The Adventure Bracket

This eight-team bracket features a strong mix of programs from various conferences, all competing in a traditional three-game, bracket-style format. Teams in this bracket will play three games over three days.

  • Bradley
  • Liberty
  • Princeton
  • Rhode Island
  • Temple
  • Towson
  • UC San Diego
  • Vermont

2. The Magic Bracket

Named perhaps in homage to the tournament's Orlando location (home of the Orlando Magic NBA team), this bracket is expected to feature some of the highest-profile teams in the field.

  • Miami (Confirmed Participant)
  • Georgetown (Confirmed Participant)
  • BYU (Confirmed Participant)
  • Other High-Major Participants TBD

3. The Imagination Bracket

The third bracket rounds out the 16-team field, providing more opportunities for mid-major teams to test themselves against quality competition.

  • Furman (Confirmed Participant)
  • Richmond (Confirmed Participant)
  • Dayton (Confirmed Participant, two-time past champion)
  • Charlotte (Confirmed Participant)
  • Illinois State (Confirmed Participant)
  • Other Participants TBD

Why the Expansion Matters: College Basketball's New Thanksgiving Tradition

The decision to expand the Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational to 16 teams is a significant move that underscores the growing importance of early-season tournaments.

Increased Strength of Schedule: For teams, participation in a 16-team field guarantees three high-quality, neutral-site games. This is invaluable for building a strong NET ranking and overall resume, which are critical for earning an NCAA Tournament bid. The diverse field, including teams like BYU, Miami, Dayton, and Princeton, ensures a variety of challenges.

Enhanced Fan Experience: For fans, the expansion means a non-stop feast of college basketball during the Thanksgiving holiday. The ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Kissimmee, Florida, provides a destination location for traveling supporters, offering a unique blend of vacation and high-level sports action.

Media and Exposure: With 20 games being broadcast across the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU), the tournament offers maximum exposure for all participating schools and their sponsors. This media visibility is a major recruiting tool and a source of revenue for the athletic departments.

The 2025 Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational is not just another early-season tournament; it's a statement. By nearly doubling its size and introducing a multi-bracket format, the event has established itself as one of the most comprehensive and competitive holiday tournaments in the nation, promising a Thanksgiving week filled with thrilling college basketball action.

5 Jaw-Dropping Facts About the Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational: The 2025 Mega-Expansion
terry's chocolate espn events invitational
terry's chocolate espn events invitational

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