Sweet 16, times 2: How many times have MSU, Michigan both advanced to Round 3?
No. 1 seed Michigan and No. 3 seed Michigan State both have made it to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
They were the bullies of Buffalo. Now, the in-state rivals part company ― perhaps to meet again down the road. Michigan and Michigan State men's basketball both have advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in the same year for the second consecutive year, and just the fifth time overall.
Here's a look at those five instances, and how they ultimately fared: 2026: Final results ... stay tuned 2025: MSU lost to Auburn in the Elite Eight, 70-64; UM lost to Auburn in the Sweet 16, 78-65 2019: MSU lost to Texas Tech in the Final Four, 61-51; UM lost to Texas Tech in the Sweet 16, 63-44 2014: MSU lost to Connecticut in the Elite Eight, 60-54; UM lost to Kentucky in the Elite Eight, 75-72 2013: MSU lost to Duke in the Sweet 16, 71-61; UM lost to Louisville in the championship game, 82-76 For Michigan State (27-7), a 77-69 winner over Louisville on Saturday, this will be its 23rd appearance in the Sweet 16. For Michigan (33-3), a 95-72 winner over Saint Louis, this will be its 20th appearance in the Sweet 16.
Michigan is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, while Michigan State is the No. 3 seed in the East Region.
The two teams could meet in the NCAA Tournament, but only in the national-championship game. Interestingly, that's the NCAA Tournament finale that analyst Seth Greenberg has predicted . The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight are next week, and the semifinals and final are April 4 and 6 in Indianapolis.