Cancun Challenge | 8/29/2025 12:00:00 PM

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The game schedule for the 2025 Men's and Women's Cancun Challenge has been released, with top programs set to compete during Thanksgiving Week at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.

Powered by Triple Crown Sports, this is the 21st edition of the women's event, with the men set to mark their 19th season. Players and fans will enjoy easy walking distance from their rooms to the converted ballroom that hosts the competition.

The 2025 Men’s Cancun Challenge is set for Nov. 25–26. This year’s six-team field includes Georgia State, New Mexico State, Samford, South Dakota State, UC Irvine and Utah Valley. All six programs will compete in a set schedule of games in Riviera Maya.

The 2025 Women’s Cancun Challenge will be played Nov. 27–29 and features two tournaments. The Mayan Tournament will include Columbia, Kansas State, North Carolina, and South Dakota State, while the Yucatan Tournament will include Green Bay, North Carolina State, Richmond, Southern Miss, TCU and UAB.

Here's the event schedule for 2025:
 
2025 Men's Cancun Challenge

U.S. GAMES
Wednesday, Nov. 19
UC Irvine at Utah Valley, 8 p.m. ET

Friday, Nov. 21
Georgia State at South Dakota State, time TBD
Samford at New Mexico State, 9 p.m. ET
 
MEXICO GAMES
Home team listed second
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Samford vs. Georgia State, 3 p.m. ET
Utah Valley vs. South Dakota State, 6 p.m. ET
New Mexico State vs. UC Irvine, 8:30 p.m. ET
 
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Georgia State vs. New Mexico State, 3 p.m. ET
Samford vs. Utah Valley, 6 p.m. ET
South Dakota State vs. UC Irvine, 8:30 p.m. ET
 
2025 Women's Cancun Challenge
Home team listed second

Thursday, Nov. 27
Mayan Tournament
North Carolina vs. South Dakota State, 11 a.m. ET
Columbia vs. Kansas State, 1:30 p.m. ET
Yucatan Tournament
NC State vs. Green Bay, 4 p.m. ET
Southern Miss vs. UAB, 6:30 p.m. ET
Richmond vs. TCU, 9 p.m. ET
 
Friday, Nov. 28
Mayan Tournament
Kansas State vs. North Carolina, 11 a.m. ET
South Dakota State vs. Columbia, 1:30 p.m. ET
Yucatan Tournament
NC State vs. Southern Miss, 4 p.m. ET
UAB vs. TCU, 6:30 p.m. ET
Green Bay vs. Richmond, 9 p.m. ET
 
Saturday, Nov. 29
Mayan Tournament
South Dakota State vs. Kansas State, 11 a.m. ET
North Carolina vs. Columbia, 1:30 p.m. ET
 
More information will continue to be released on the event website: Cancun Challenge
 
Fan packages are available; check out your options for a relaxing, safe and secure warm-weather escape over Thanksgiving: Fan Packages - Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya - Cancun Challenge
 
About Triple Crown Sports
Based in Fort Collins, CO., Triple Crown Sports has been producing youth, high school and college events for more than 40 years. TCS runs both the Postseason WNIT basketball event and produces the men's and women's DI Cancun Challenge tournaments in November. Triple Crown is also powering a "WNIT" concept event in D-I volleyball (NIVC), with that event debuting in 2017. Triple Crown's PV College Challenge features more than 10 of the top DI college softball teams in the country each year in Puerto Vallarta, MX. Anchored by the 1,200-team Colorado 4th of July event, TC fastpitch softball tournaments draw the nation's finest club programs, and hundreds of college coaches attend TCS events for recruiting purposes. TCS produces one of the largest youth baseball events in the world with the 700-team Omaha SlumpBuster during the College World Series. The Triple Crown Volleyball NIT has become the top-recruited club volleyball event in the country each February when 550 teams compete in Kansas City, MO.