Tom Izzo hinted at it earlier this week, and now John Calipari has taken to social media to confirm it: Michigan State and Arkansas are set to clash on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit. This exciting matchup will take place at Little Caesars Arena, moving from its originally planned location in Fayetteville.
Calipari expressed enthusiasm about the game being nationally televised on CBS, highlighting the opportunity for his program to gain even more visibility. “We’ve been one of the most watched college basketball teams, and we want to build on that!”
he shared. He also mentioned that Michigan State will eventually play at Arkansas, with the date still to be determined.
The two teams have a bit of history, with Michigan State narrowly defeating Arkansas 69-66 last November in East Lansing. This upcoming game is part of a home-and-home series announced in 2025, which was originally set to conclude this fall.
Izzo and Calipari are tied 3-3 in their head-to-head meetings, while Michigan State boasts a 3-0 all-time record against Arkansas. One memorable matchup was back in 1995, during Izzo’s first season, when they faced off at the Great Eight at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Despite the public announcements, the contract for the game isn’t finalized yet, according to a source. Izzo had earlier mentioned on WVFN-AM that the game is scheduled to follow the Lions’ Thanksgiving game, making it a major event in Detroit.
Reflecting on past Thanksgiving matchups, Izzo noted the significance of these marquee games. In 2025, Michigan State defeated North Carolina in the Fort Myers Tip-Off, while in 2023, they faced Arizona in the Acrisure Classic. The Spartans skipped Thanksgiving play in 2024 due to the Maui Invitational.
Looking ahead, Michigan State will take on Duke in the Champions Classic on November 10 in Chicago. Izzo also mentioned plans to play Gonzaga in California, though that contract is still pending.
Additionally, the Spartans are set to host an exhibition game against Connecticut this fall, a team that ousted them from the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. Connecticut, currently in the Final Four, previously defeated Michigan State in a neutral site exhibition.
Izzo humorously acknowledged his ambitious scheduling, saying, “The one thing I’ve still stayed stubborn on is my scheduling, but I’m always trying to bring good teams here.”