Michigan State, Arkansas added to Detroit's Thanksgiving sports menu

Field Level Media|published: Wed 8th July, 16:43 2026

Arkansas' head coach John Calipari, left, and Michigan State's coach Tom Izzo meet before the game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

There is more than football on the Thanksgiving sports menu in Detroit this year, with Michigan State and Arkansas set to play across from Ford Field on Nov. 26 in the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic.

The Lions are hosting the Chicago Bears at 1 p.m. ET in their traditional annual Thanksgiving Day game with the Spartans and Razorbacks scheduled to tip off at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Michigan State defeated Arkansas 69-66 in East Lansing last November and the Razorbacks are scheduled to welcome the Spartans as part of the 2027-28 regular-season schedule. A location for that game has not been announced.

"These are the types of games that will help both teams down the road," Izzo said. "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."

Arkansas went 28-9 last season and finished third in the SEC. The Razorbacks have not released their nonconference schedule but have confirmed December games against North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Dec. 1 and another Dec. 19 in Phoenix against Arizona, which defeated Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament on the way to the Final Four.

Michigan State plays Duke on Nov. 10 in Chicago at the Champions Classic and faces Gonzaga on Dec. 19 in Palm Springs, Calif.

--Field Level Media