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Michigan State March Madness bracket live updates
East Lansing — Michigan State will push its NCAA Tournament streak to a record 28 straight appearances Sunday when it finds its name among the 68-team field. The only question is whether the Spartans did enough to earn a No. 2 seed, or if they slip to a No. 3.
Michigan State will found out where, when and who it plays in March Madness during the selection show at 6 p.m. (CBS). The Spartans were in position to earn a No. 2 seed entering Friday's Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal, but now lie on the cusp of a No. 3 seed after an 88-84 loss to UCLA.
More: Where will Michigan State be seeded in March Madness? Live bracketology predictions
No program has had the consistency of Michigan State under Tom Izzo, who is sending his team dancing into March Madness for the 28th straight season to extend its lead among active Tournament streaks. This year's appearance also ties Kansas' 28 straight NCAA Tournament bids from 1990 to 2017 for the most consecutive appearances all-time. Michigan State could have held the record all by itself this season had the 2020 NCAA Tournament not been shut down due to COVID-19. The Spartans were a Final Four hopeful that year.
In the current 28-year span, Izzo has led the Spartans to eight Final Fours (most among active coaches) and a national championship in 2000.
The streak dates back to 1998, when the Mateen Cleaves-led Flintstones cracked the Sweet Sixteen — the first of 16 such appearances under Izzo. A year ago, the Spartans went all the way to the Elite Eight. In his 31st year as head coach, Izzo is looking to get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2019, with Cassius Winston.
More: Cassius Winston on Jeremy Fears breaking Michigan State record: ‘That’s what it’s there for’
Where to watch Selection Sunday
CBS airs the NCAA's selection show at 6 p.m. ET. The show can be also streamed on Paramount+.
The entire 68-team field will be unveiled during the Selection Show, including the matchups for the First Four games Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. That field will trim down to the Final Four when teams arrive in at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 4.
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Michigan State coach Tom Izzo still chasing second title
It took Tom Izzo just five seasons to win a national championship as his Flintstones cut down the nets in 2000. Now in the 25th postseason since, Izzo is still looking for another national championship title.
Izzo's 59 postseason wins tie Arkansas’ John Calipari for the most among active coaches and fifth all-time. Both will be in the field this March. However, that elusive second title keeps Izzo from joining a short list of multi-championship coaches. John Wooden (10 titles) leads a list of 17 men’s basketball coaches to win at least two national championships, with Bill Self, Dan Hurley and Rick Pitino the only active coaches among them (Pitino’s 2013 title with Louisville was vacated by the NCAA).
Big Ten hasn’t won national championship since 2000 Spartans
If Tom Izzo is still looking for another national championship, then so is the larger Big Ten conference, The Spartans’ 2000 title is the Big Ten’s only title in the past 25 NCAA tournaments.
The Big Ten got close in 2024 when Zach Edey and Purdue made it to the national championship game but lost 75-60 to UConn. Donte DiVincenzo and Villanova handled Michigan in 2018, 79–62, in 2018. Duke beat Wisconsin in 2015, and Louisville beat Michigan for 2013’s now vacated title, with four other Big Ten appearances in the title game following 2000’s MSU title. Michigan State had another shot in 2009 but lost the national championship game 89-72 to North Carolina at Ford Field in Detroit.
The ACC and Big East lead all NCAA conferences with eight national championships each out of the past 25. The SEC has four, including Florida’s 2025 title. The Big 12 has won it all three of those years, and UConn gave the American Athletic Conference a title in 2014.
How many times has Tom Izzo made the Final Four?
Can Michigan State make another Final Four run in 2026? Michigan State has made the Final Four eight times under head coach Tom Izzo: in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2019. Those eight are the most by any coach since 1999.
The only coaches who have gone to more Final Fours are:
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke: 13 (five national championships)
John Wooden, UCLA: 12 (10 national championships
Dean Smith, North Carolina: 11 (two national championships)
Roy Williams, Kansas/North Carolina: nine (three national championships)
What is Michigan State’s all-time record …
As a No. 2 seed: 18-5 (Last: 2025, Elite Eight)
As a No. 3 seed: 2-2 (Last: 2013, Sweet Sixteen)
After a loss in first game of Big Ten Tournament: 5-3 next game, 16-7 overall (Last: 2023, Sweet Sixteen)
In the Midwest Region: 23-8 (Last: 2018, Second Round)
In the East Region: 16-9 (Last: 2023, Sweet Sixteen)
In the South Region: 16-6 (Last: 2025, Elite Eight)
In the West Region: 4-3 (Last: 2024, Second Round)
When does March Madness start?
NCAA Tournament March Madness begins with the First Four games on Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. There are two games matching No. 11 seeds and two matching No. 16 seeds.
The rest of the tournament gets underway Thursday with first-round games in each of the four regions ― Midwest, East, South and West. Duke, Michigan, Arizona and Florida are the projected No. 1 seeds in this year's field.
Has Michigan State basketball ever been a No. 1 seed?
Michigan State has been a No. 1 seed five times, most recently in 2012. Three times as a No. 1 seed, the Spartans made the Final Four, including a run of three straight from 1999 to 2001 that included the 2000 national championship led by Mateen Cleaves.
In 1990, Michigan State lost a Sweet Sixteen game to Georgia Tech in controversy as replay appeared to show Kenny Anderson's buzzer-beater went in after time had expired. Officials called the 3-pointer a 2 to force overtime, where the Yellowjackets stung the Spartans 81-80. In 2012, Michigan State lost to Rick Pitino's Louisville, 57-44, in the Sweet Sixteen in Draymond Green's final game as a Spartan.
1990: Lost in Sweet 16 to Georgia Tech
1999: Lost in Final Four semifinals to Duke
2000: Beat Florida in national championship game
2001: Lost in Final Four semifinals to Arizona
2012: Lost in the Sweet 16 to Louisville
This year, Michigan State won't be a No. 1 seed. More likely, the Spartans land with a No. 2 seed or a No. 3 seed.
Michigan State basketball March Madness history
Michigan State has a 76-37 record in 38 NCAA Tournaments, with 10 Final Fours and two national championship (1979, 2000).
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan State basketball’s 2026 NCAA bracket, seed, opponent revealed
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