​The Michigan State men’s basketball team is slated to tip off against Arkansas at 4:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving in a high-profile showdown at Little Caesars Arena, with CBS carrying the broadcast. The exact tipoff time and the network were officially announced on Wednesday, confirming the Thanksgiving match-up that will also be streamed on Paramount+. This game forms part of a major Thanksgiving sports doubleheader in Detroit, as the Detroit Lions host the Chicago Bears at Ford Field with a 1 p.m. kickoff, also on CBS.
MSU head coach Tom Izzo expressed strong enthusiasm about the event. In a statement, he said, “I love any time we get a chance to play in Detroit and at Little Caesars Arena. When you have an opportunity to play a game that will be a memory-maker for your players and your program, you take advantage of that chance. This is the second straight year we’ll face a very talented Arkansas team, and it gives me another chance to matchup with one of my great friends in college basketball, John Calipari. These are the kinds of games that help both programs down the road. To play a team like Arkansas in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, right after the Lions, will make for a great day for sports fans in our state and for college basketball.”
Ticket information indicates that MSU-Arkansas tickets go on sale October 1, while a pre-sale window opens September 30. Fans interested in the presale can register at DetroitHoops.com/tickets. In addition, “official” travel packages will be available, with sales beginning in August. These packages are expected to include game tickets and hotel accommodations in downtown Detroit and can be explored at DetroitHoops.com/travel.
This matchup marks the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs. Michigan State currently holds the edge in the series, having won the previous three meetings, including a 69-66 victory last November in East Lansing. Michigan State concluded its 2023-24 campaign with a 27-8 record and advanced to the Sweet 16, while Arkansas posted a 28-9 mark and also reached the Sweet 16. The 2024-25 season included another memorable clash, with Coen Carr of MSU illustrating a buoyant momentum as Arkansas coach John Calipari’s Razorbacks challenged the Spartans in Breslin Center, East Lansing, on November 8, 2025. The broader context of the event emphasizes high-level non-conference play that can influence both programs as they progress through their respective schedules.
Fans should keep an eye on further details as the season approaches, including game-day experiences, streaming options, and any additional promotional events surrounding the Thanksgiving tilt. This early-season showdown promises to be a marquee matchup that could set the tone for both teams’ trajectories as they navigate their paths through a challenging non-conference slate and into the heart of conference play.