Every Thanksgiving, Michigan State basketball participates in a premier event that pins it against one of the nation's best teams. It's either a one-game event or a tournament, and Michigan State usually fares well. Next Thanksgiving, however, the Spartans could be staying home.
This year, the Spartans were in Fort Myers for a two-game event against East Carolina and North Carolina, and they won both by double figures. The year before, Michigan State faced No. 3 Arizona in Palm Springs. Before that, Michigan State was a regular in tournaments like the Maui Invitational or Atlantis. They also participated in the PK80 and the PK85.
Next Thanksgiving, it sounds like Michigan State will be in Detroit.
According to Tony Paul of the Detroit News, Michigan State is planning to play a "marquee" opponent at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit next Thanksgiving after the Lions game at Ford Field.
Paul's article is behind a paywall, so if you want to read more about the potential matchup, you'll have to have a Detroit News subscription.
Michigan State basketball continues to be in the spotlight
It's felt like Michigan State has been playing in cool attention-grabbing events for years, and that kind of action really helps recruiting. Young recruits love to play on the big stage, and seeing Michigan State play a Thanksgiving game in 2026 against a "marquee" opponent right after the Detroit Lions game right across the street will be huge for national exposure.
The Spartans have also been part of the Champions Classic for years and they play teams like Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky in rotation for a while. They've also been to Maui, Atlantis, and several other places.
Michigan State has faced the likes of Arizona, UConn, Duke, Baylor, Gonzaga, and countless others over the years in non-conference play around Thanksgiving, but getting a premier opponent in Detroit right after the Lions game is going to be huge for the brand.
It's also going to act as somewhat of a home game for the Spartans, which is always a good chance to pick up a win over an elite opponent.