Overview
- The matchup was announced on Wednesday, July 8, and will be played on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena with a 4:30 p.m. ET tipoff on CBS and live streaming on Paramount+.
- CBS scheduled the game to follow the Detroit Lions‑Chicago Bears broadcast to reach a large national audience after two prior Thanksgiving games produced strong ratings for the network.
- Ticketing details are confirmed: an official presale is set for Sept. 30 and general public sales begin Oct. 1, and event travel packages will be offered beginning in August.
- Both teams return key players and incoming recruits that frame the game as an early-season measuring stick—Arkansas arrives with the No. 1 recruiting class while Michigan State adds a top‑30 class and returns All‑American point guard Jeremy Fears Jr.
- Reports disagree on the all-time series record between the programs with some outlets listing Michigan State up 3-0 and others reporting a 3-3 split, a factual discrepancy that requires independent verification.