Detroit's Thanksgiving holiday is set to feature an expanded sports spectacle, adding a high-profile college basketball game to the traditional football festivities. The CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic will host a showdown between Michigan State and Arkansas, offering sports fans a double header of athletic entertainment in the Motor City.
This year, the Detroit Lions' customary Thanksgiving Day football game against the Chicago Bears at 1 p.m. ET will be followed by the Spartans and Razorbacks tipping off at 4:30 p.m. ET. This exciting arrangement builds on a previous encounter where Michigan State narrowly defeated Arkansas 69-66 last November in East Lansing. The Razorbacks are also slated to host the Spartans in the 2027-28 season, with the venue yet to be determined.
Coach Izzo expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming game, highlighting its importance for both teams' development. He emphasized that playing Arkansas on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit, immediately after the Lions' game, will create a memorable experience for college basketball fans and the state's sports community. Arkansas, coming off a strong 28-9 season and a third-place finish in the SEC, has confirmed non-conference games against North Carolina and Arizona. Similarly, Michigan State has high-profile matchups scheduled with Duke at the Champions Classic and Gonzaga in Palm Springs, California, underscoring both teams' rigorous schedules and competitive aspirations.
This strategic scheduling not only elevates the holiday's entertainment value but also provides an invaluable platform for these collegiate basketball powerhouses to test their mettle against top-tier competition, fostering growth and excitement within the sport.