Tarik Skubal Soaks in Michigan Hoops, While Tigers Fans Wonder About His Future
Tarik Skubal, the Tigers’ ace and reigning back-to-back Cy Young winner, was spotted courtside at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, taking in the annual Michigan State vs. Oakland basketball showdown. And while the game itself delivered its usual flair-complete with the now-traditional ugly Christmas sweaters worn by coaches Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe-it was Skubal’s presence that sparked the biggest buzz in the building.
Any time Skubal shows up in public, especially in Detroit, the question inevitably follows: Will he stay or will he go?
Tom Izzo and @MSU_Basketball are doing their part to try and keep Tarik Skubal in Detroit 😂 pic.twitter.com/WpUvslw7JD
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 20, 2025
The left-hander is under contract for one more season, but with free agency looming, the Tigers face a tough decision. Do they hold onto their ace and risk losing him for only a compensatory draft pick?
Or do they explore trade options now while his value is sky-high? That question has quietly (and not-so-quietly) followed Skubal throughout the offseason, especially after whispers emerged from the MLB Winter Meetings suggesting Detroit might consider moving him to recoup assets.
Oakland head coach Greg Kampe didn’t shy away from the elephant in the room. After his Golden Grizzlies fell to Izzo’s Spartans 79-70, Kampe revealed he went right to the source.
“I asked him if he was staying,” Kampe said. “He told me, ‘I’m under contract for one more year.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, we all know that.’”
That’s about as candid as it gets-and it perfectly sums up where things stand. Skubal’s dominance on the mound has made him one of the most coveted arms in baseball, and if he hits the open market, he’s expected to command a contract that could reset the bar for pitchers. For now, though, he's still wearing the Old English "D"-and that’s all that matters to Detroit fans hoping to see him lead the next great Tigers rotation.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, for one, is doing his part to keep Skubal in town. After the game, Izzo joked that he encouraged his players to roll out the red carpet for the Tigers star.
“I’d tell my guys to hug and kiss [Skubal] to keep him around, so maybe they will,” Izzo said with a grin.
The 2025 Ugly Christmas Sweater Reveal — “Naughty” and “Nice.” Tom and Lupe Izzo had them made this year. pic.twitter.com/XzAYMytioJ
— Tony Paul | Detroit News (@TonyPaul1984) December 20, 2025
That kind of good-natured recruiting is par for the course when it comes to Izzo and Kampe. Their friendship has become one of the most endearing storylines in Michigan sports.
What began in 2022 with a lighthearted decision to wear matching Christmas sweaters has evolved into a full-blown holiday tradition. Last year, they sported Grinch-themed gear.
This year? They took it up a notch.
Izzo and his wife, Lupe, had custom sweaters made-Izzo’s featured him arguing with a referee under the “naughty list” banner, while Kampe’s “nice list” sweater showed him bumping fists with an official. It was a perfect encapsulation of their personalities and their playful dynamic.
But beneath the laughs and holiday garb is a deep bond built on mutual respect and support. Kampe made that clear during the postgame press conference, where emotions ran high.
“I would not be here still today if it wasn’t for [Izzo],” Kampe said, visibly moved. “What he’s done for me and our program… I’m getting choked up because it’s true.
I got really good players because I was able to pay some, and he’s the one that helped me do that. On his own, he’s come down and done an event twice now for me where I’ve raised close to a half-million dollars.”
It’s rare to see two competitors speak so openly about their friendship, but that’s what makes this annual matchup more than just a game. It’s a celebration of community, connection, and yes-some truly outrageous sweaters.
Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe.
— Joel Sebastianelli (@JJSebastianelli) December 20, 2025
Naughty and Nice. pic.twitter.com/ADEfdWBq5i
As for Skubal? He remains the biggest question mark in the room. And while no decisions are being made courtside at a basketball game, it’s clear that Detroit-both the city and its sports community-is doing everything it can to make him feel at home.
Greg Kampe on how much Tom Izzo means to him:
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 20, 2025
“This relationship for me is the single most important relationship I’ve had in my professional career.” 🥹 pic.twitter.com/It6qsY7kzr
The countdown to next year’s holiday clash is already on. And who knows? Maybe by then, we’ll know whether Skubal is still calling Detroit home.