Michigan State basketball announces North Carolina matchup next Thanksgiving

As Tom Izzo has always stated, Michigan State basketball isn’t afraid to play anyone, anywhere, any time. And that mantra has been true throughout his whole career and it’s already extending into next season.

The Spartans have already faced the No. 1 team in the country as well as one of the top mid-majors in the nation this season and they’re getting set to head to Maui where teams like UConn, North Carolina, Auburn, Iowa State, Memphis, Dayton, and Colorado will be playing. The Spartans will open with Colorado and then get one of the handful of elite teams in the field in the next round. It’s going to be a heck of a test for this young squad.

Well, before we can even dive into that, Michigan State’s official X account announced on Thursday that it has an elite matchup scheduled for next year.

According to MSU, it’ll face North Carolina next Thanksgiving Day as part of the Fort Myers Tip-Off.

Thanksgiving 2025 plans are set 🌴 pic.twitter.com/IsxCnFyAVl

— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) November 21, 2024

This is a pretty cool event which has been around since 2018 and it’ll be played throughout Thanksgiving week with the highlight being the matchup between the Spartans and Tar Heels.

Michigan State fans are hoping for better luck than the team had in the last matchup with North Carolina in last year’s NCAA Tournament, building a double-digit lead in the first 10 minutes only to watch it melt away and lose in the second round.

North Carolina and Michigan State basketball have met 17 times all time and the Tar Heels lead the series 13-4. The Spartans will hope to close that gap next season with a pretty young roster coming back. Guys like Tre Holloman, Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, Xavier Booker, Jase Richrdson, Kur Teng, and Jaxon Kohler should all be back to lead the talented team against North Carolina.

This is a heck of a treat for college basketball fans on Thanksgiving Day 2025.