Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan State Spartans Face Off in NCAA Hockey Regional Final

Big Ten rivals battle for a spot in the Frozen Four

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:05pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the action and energy of a college hockey game, with sharp geometric shapes in navy blue, scarlet red, and forest green overlapping to create a dynamic, multi-perspective visual.The intense regional final matchup between Big Ten rivals Wisconsin and Michigan State will be a hard-fought battle for a spot in the Frozen Four.Worcester Today

The third-seeded Wisconsin Badgers and top-seeded Michigan State Spartans will meet in the NCAA men's hockey regional final on March 28 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. The winner will advance to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas on April 9-11. Both teams are seeking their first Frozen Four appearance in over a decade, with Michigan State last making it in 2007 and Wisconsin in 2010.

Why it matters

This matchup between Big Ten rivals is a highly anticipated game, as both teams have had strong seasons and are looking to end long droughts of reaching the Frozen Four. The winner will punch their ticket to the national semifinals, giving them a chance to compete for the NCAA hockey championship.

The details

Wisconsin and Michigan State split their four regular season meetings, with each team sweeping the other on their home ice. The Badgers won the first two games in November, 5-4 and 2-1 in overtime, before the Spartans took the final two matchups in January, 4-3 and 4-1. Wisconsin is 4-2 this season against teams ranked in the top 2 nationally.

  • The puck drops at 3:30 p.m. ET on March 28.
  • The winner will advance to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas on April 9-11.

The players

Wisconsin Badgers

The third-seeded Wisconsin Badgers are seeking their first Frozen Four appearance since 2010.

Michigan State Spartans

The top-seeded Michigan State Spartans are looking to end their Frozen Four drought, which dates back to 2007.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited for the opportunity to play in this regional final and try to earn a spot in the Frozen Four. Both teams have had great seasons and it should be a hard-fought game.”

— Tony Granato, Wisconsin Head Coach

“This is the kind of game our players have been working towards all season. We know Wisconsin will be a tough opponent, but we're confident in our ability to come out on top and keep our season going.”

— Danton Cole, Michigan State Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the Wisconsin-Michigan State regional final will advance to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas on April 9-11, where they will compete for the NCAA hockey championship.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated matchup between Big Ten rivals Wisconsin and Michigan State will determine which team ends their long drought of reaching the Frozen Four. Both teams have had impressive seasons and will be battling hard to punch their ticket to the national semifinals.