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Michigan State officially announces Thanksgiving matchup vs. Arkansas
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Michigan State will be facing off against SEC foe Arkansas on Thanksgiving this upcoming season. The matchup was officially announced on Wednesday after being reported earlier this offseason.
Dubbed the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic, Arkansas vs. Michigan State is set to start at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS following a battle between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. The game will be held at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, which will act as Michigan State’s home game in the home-and-home series.
The Spartans are set to travel to Fayetteville in late 2027.
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The Razorbacks and Spartans each advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2025-26, and both are set to be top 25 teams this upcoming season. Arkansas is fresh off an SEC Tournament victory, but will be without star guard Darius Acuff, who is off to the NBA with the Sacramento Kings.
Arkansas added a lot of talent this offseason. International prospect Miika Muurinen is set to be a star, as are freshman newcomers Jordan Smith Jr. and JJ Andrews alongside returner Billy Richmond as well as transfers Jeremiah Wilkinson and Cooper Bowser.
Michigan State, on the other hand, retains Jeremy Fears and Coen Carr while adding Charlotte center Anton Bonke and freshman Jasiah Jervis. MSU should be a top 15 team when the season starts in November.
“I love any time that we get a chance to play in Detroit and at Little Caesars Arena,” Tom Izzo said via release on Wednesday. “I’ve said it numerous times but when you get a chance to have a game that will be a memory-maker for your players and your program, you take advantage of that opportunity. Getting a chance to play a team like Arkansas in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day right after the Detroit Lions will be a great day for sports fans in our state and for college basketball.”
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.