Top men’s and women’s college basketball teams to determine who will ‘Own the Fort’
It’s time once again to see who will “Own the Fort,” as a premiere college basketball tournament returns to Fort Myers next week.
The 2025 Sketchers Fort Myers Tip-Off at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College runs from Nov. 24-29, where some of the top NCAA programs will vie for supremacy.
In the Beach Division, East Carolina will face Michigan State and St. Bonaventure for the first time, while the Bonnies will face North Carolina for just the second time. Michigan State and North Carolina will meet on Thanksgiving Day for what will be the 18th all-time matchup between the storied programs.
In the Palms Division, some familiar names are scheduled for Nov. 24-26.
Bowling Green, Bucknell, Buffalo and VMI make up the four-team division. Seven of the teams participating in the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off will do so for the first time, while Bowling Green will become the first program in the event’s history to make its second appearance (inaugural Palms Division in 2021).
FOX Sports has been the television home of the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off since its launch in 2018. This year’s Michigan State-North Carolina matchup will mark the second time the network will air an elite Thanksgiving Day men’s showdown from Fort Myers on the FOX broadcast network.
The 2025 Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off features eight nationally televised contests takes place Nov. 28-29 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena.
Teams will participate in either the event’s Island or Shell divisions, where they will play two games against pre-determined opponents. All games will be nationally televised by ION with distribution on cable, satellite, major streaming platforms and over-the-air.
The Shell Division is made up of Abilene Christian, Northwestern, Missouri and Bradley. The Island Division is comprised of Butler, Dayton, Kansas and Georgia.
For more information on game times, ticket information and more, visit fortmyerstipoff.com or womensfortmyerstipoff.com.