This guide walks through how to create a Splash-managed NCAAB Survivor (Pick By Day) contest. In this format, Splash collects entry fees and automatically handles payouts or as an Entertainment-Only (EO) contest where it is self-managed by the commissioner, while entrants attempt to survive by correctly picking winners each tournament day.

How to Create Your Real-Money Survivor Contest

This guide walks through how to create a Splash-managed NCAAB Survivor (Pick By Day) contest. In this format, Splash collects entry fees and automatically handles payouts, while entrants attempt to survive by correctly picking winners each tournament day.

When choosing your contest:

This ensures you are creating a Splash-managed real-money Survivor contest.

Enter the official name of your contest.
Example: 2026 March Madness Survivor – Pick By Day

This is what entrants will see when joining.

Use this section to explain:

Providing a clear description helps avoid confusion during the tournament.

Upload a custom banner to personalize your contest.

Requirements:

A banner is optional but recommended for a professional look.

This confirms you are running a Survivor format contest.

You may:

Use “Show Less/Show All” to adjust visibility.

This allows flexibility if you want:

When enabled:

This setting is commonly used to streamline late-round gameplay.

Select the fee each entrant must pay.

With Splash-managed contests:

Participants review the entry fee before entering.

If you opt in:

This allows commissioners to earn compensation for running the contest.

If selected:

If you want Splash to manage payments and payouts, do not select this option.

Estimate how many entries you expect.

If the contest does not reach the projected size:

Invite Only

Only users with your direct invite link can join.

On

Allows participants to communicate inside the contest.

Example: Thursday, Mar 19 @ 12:15 PM ET

This is the deadline for entrants to join the contest.

Each Game Start

Picks lock individually at each game’s scheduled start time.

First Game of the Day

Picks lock when the first game of each day starts

Pick Winners

Entrants select the team they believe will win.

Pick Losers

Entrants select the team they believe will lose.

1 Pick Per Day

Each entrant selects one team per tournament day to survive.

Straight Up

Survival is based solely on correctly picking the game winner (no point spreads).

Against the Spread

Survival is based solely on covering the spread in order to win (all spreads are rounded to the closest half point).

Choose how often an entrant can select the same team:

Limiting team usage increases strategy and difficulty.

Currently disabled by default.

If enabled:

This adds strategic complexity during high-volume game days.

Choose how many automatic picks are allowed if a participant forgets to submit:

Auto-picks are typically assigned based on highest-seeded available team.

Disabled by default

If enabled:

If all remaining entrants are eliminated on the same day:

This prevents the contest from ending prematurely without a winner.

If enabled:

Example:
Picking lower-seeded underdogs increases seed points and improves tiebreak position.

Choose how many lives each entry receives:

If an entrant loses a pick:

Buybacks allow eliminated entrants to re-enter the contest.

Choose the final day entrants can buy back in:

Set the buyback cost:

Currently limited to:

Make Prize Pool Eligible for Splitting

If enabled:

If disabled:

Turn this setting on to make your contest eligible for unanimous agreements among the remaining entrants to split the prize pool. Learn more

Once complete: