Michigan State to Face North Dakota State in March Madness First Round

Spartans earn 3-seed in East Region, will take on 14-seed Bison in Buffalo

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:12pm

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Michigan State basketball has earned a 3-seed in the East Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will face 14-seed North Dakota State in the first round on Thursday, March 19 in Buffalo, New York. The Spartans are looking to bounce back from a frustrating loss in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals against UCLA.

Why it matters

Michigan State is making its 28th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, showcasing the program's consistent excellence under head coach Tom Izzo. The Spartans will be heavily favored against the Bison, but will need to avoid an early upset to advance in the East Region and potentially make a deep run in the tournament.

The details

Michigan State enters the tournament ranked 9th overall on kenpom.com, with the 24th-ranked offense and 13th-ranked defense. North Dakota State, on the other hand, is ranked 113th overall, with the 124th-ranked offense and defense. The winner of the Michigan State-North Dakota State matchup will face either UCLA or UCF in the Round of 32 on Saturday.

  • Michigan State will play North Dakota State on Thursday, March 19 in Buffalo, New York.
  • If Michigan State wins its first round game, it will play in the Round of 32 on Saturday.

The players

Michigan State Spartans

A Division I college basketball team that competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans are making their 28th straight NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Tom Izzo.

North Dakota State Bison

A Division I college basketball team that competes in The Summit League. The Bison earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning their conference tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready to play our best basketball of the season if we want to make a deep run in the tournament.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans (freep.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Michigan State-North Dakota State game will advance to the Round of 32 to face either UCLA or UCF on Saturday, March 21.

The takeaway

Michigan State's consistent excellence under Tom Izzo has earned them a 3-seed in the East Region, but they will need to avoid an early upset against North Dakota State to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive and potentially make a deep run.