MSU's Izzo Makes Big Thanksgiving Scheduling Announcement

The Spartans will be taking on an interesting opponent on Thanksgiving, per Tom Izzo.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a play against Louisville during the first half of NCAA Tournament Second Round at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday, March 21, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Michigan State men's basketball will be playing on Thanksgiving Day for the fifth time in six seasons next fall.

On Tuesday, MSU head coach Tom Izzo told Tim Staudt of WILX during his radio show that the Spartans would be facing Arkansas this coming Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 26) at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Michigan State's Cam Ward, right, moves the ball as Arkansas' Nick Pringle defends during the second half on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tony Paul of the Detroit News reported back in December that the Spartans were going to be playing at LCA next Thanksgiving, but the "marquee" opponent had yet to be determined. It appears Michigan State has found a willing partner.

The news comes as a surprise, because MSU was scheduled to go face the Razorbacks in Fayetteville next season, according to a copy of the home-and-home contract signed in August 2025 that was obtained by Spartan Nation. Michigan State outlasted Arkansas, 69-66, during the second game of this past season. Chances are that the game at Bud Walton Arena will either not happen or get postponed to the 2027-28 season or later.

Big TV Ratings on Thanksgiving

Arkansas' head coach John Calipari calls out to his players during the first half against Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Outside of March Madness, Thanksgiving is the very best time on the calendar to play a prestigious non-conference game. The plan will likely be to tip the game off right after the Detroit Lions' annual Thanksgiving game.

Both MSU and Arkansas played Thanksgiving games last season, too. The Spartans' game against North Carolina averaged 6.5 million viewers on FOX, the network's most-watched college basketball game ever. The Razorbacks faced Duke on CBS that day, too, with the game drawing 6.8 million viewers.

Other Known Non-Conference Battles

Michigan State's Tom Izzo shakes the hand of an Ohio State assistant before a game at the Breslin Center on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI

It will be months before the Spartans' next non-conference schedule is completely set, but there are still games known to be on the docket.

One of the big events Michigan State participates in every year is the Champions Classic, which pairs MSU up on a rotational basis against Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas. The event will take the Spartans to Chicago on Nov. 10 this coming year, where Michigan State will be the home team against the Blue Devils.

Another team we know is that MSU will be hosting Oakland at the Breslin Center once again. The Spartans went and faced the Golden Grizzlies at LCA in Detroit this past season, winning 79-70.

The contract stipulates that Michigan State will face Oakland during both the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons, actually. MSU will pay the Golden Grizzlies $125,000 for each of those games.

Michigan State's Tom Izzo yells at a referee about a call made during a game against Northwestern at the Breslin Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI