Friday is a big day for Tom Izzo. Yes, it’s the first of two huge showdowns between Michigan and Michigan State basketball, but it’s also the legendary head coach’s 71st birthday.
No, that’s not a typo: Izzo is facing Michigan on his birthday.
That almost feels like fiction. The most iconic head coach in Michigan State history who has made a living off of dominating the in-state rivalry over the years and who is the perfect picture of what it means to be a Spartan is facing his hated rival on his birthday in East Lansing with a school record for best start to a season and first place in the Big Ten on the line. That kind of storyline would be too good for Hollywood.
Izzo is facing the best Michigan team since John Beilein was still in Ann Arbor, and this matchups is giving everyone flashbacks to those golden days where both teams were regularly ranked in the top 10. The rivalry seems to be headed back in that direction.
Izzo will have no time to celebrate his birthday leading up to the 8 p.m. ET tip, but he’s hoping to have a huge celebration afterward with his Spartan family — and then hopefully his actual family.
History likes his chances to beat Michigan on Friday night.
Tom Izzo is really hard to beat on his birthday
Izzo’s teams have played eight times before on his birthday. Their record in those eight games? An impressive 7-1. He’s also played Michigan three times before on his birthday. His record in those games? Well, he’s never lost to the Wolverines on his birthday.
Incredible research done on these stats by Michigan State Content on X.
Tom Izzo is 7-1 on his birthday.
— Michigan State Content (@msucontent) January 28, 2026
3-0 vs. Michigan. https://t.co/d7Xe6xkYHd
The last time these two teams played on his birthday (2024), Michigan State won by 19. There’s more on the line than usual in this birthday showdown, and you know Izzo is going to have his guys ready.
I can also assure you that Izzo won’t be mentioning his birthday before Friday’s game. His mind is on one thing, and that’s beating Michigan for a fourth straight time and eighth in the last 11 meetings.
Izzo has never lost to Michigan on his birthday. Something to keep in mind.