Students run to the entrance of the Breslin Center ahead of the Michigan State vs. University of Michigan rivalry basketball game on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.
Michigan State students were told they could not line up outside the Breslin Center more than a half hour before the doors opened for the highly anticipated MSU vs. Michigan men’s basketball game. According to the Izzone, anyone who arrived before 6 p.m. would be removed by police.
“It’s a little disheartening when they tell us we can’t line up, but they don’t cancel class,” public policy sophomore Charlie Johnson said. “They make us walk to class, but we can’t stand outside.”
Many students shared a similar sentiment.
“I’m angry. If I want to spend my time standing in line, let me,” psychology senior Taryn Marshall said.
Others said they were relieved by the shorter wait in the low single digit temperatures.
“I’m happy I didn’t have to be here at 6 a.m.,” journalism senior Reese Carlson said. “Would I have been here at 6 a.m. anyways? Yes. They’re letting us line up before the time anyway, so what’s even the point?”
Carlson said she was a part of a group of about 30 students who showed up at 11 a.m. and were told to go. “The cops just came and said everyone had to leave.”
Due to these reports of students being escorted away from the Breslin all day, many chose to wait inside 1855 Place and nearby buildings instead.
By 4:30 p.m., a crowd began to form. A few minutes later, students started hopping the fence and sprinting to the front of the line, with security finally allowing them to stay. Chants of “Go Green, Go White” rang out.
“It’s my senior year, it’s the final game, we haven’t lost at home yet. I’m pumped to be here,” computational data science senior Zachary LaRochelle said, who found himself near the front of the line after the rush. “I didn’t like [the rule] at first, but it worked out in the end and I’m in a good spot.”
The No. 7 Spartans and No. 3 Wolverines had a combined ranking of 10, the best in the rivalry’s history, with first place in the Big Ten on the line.
“Michigan State needs our support,” accounting sophomore Austin Matera said. “We gotta show out for our team. We always gotta be loud, we gotta show them exactly what this rivalry means.”
Many students said they were frustrated with how the rules were enforced, especially because people were still allowed to line up well before 6 p.m.
Last weekend, students were also warned not to line up early for the basketball and hockey games because of the cold, but those who did were not escorted away.
“What’s frustrating is that they’re going to stop enforcing it at some point, and then the people who were here earlier or who are listening to the rules are gonna get screwed,” Marshall said. She said she showed up early for the Duke game, when similar cold weather guidelines were in place, and still struggled to get a good seat. “I wouldn’t be as mad if they had enforced it before.”
Even though they were still able to line up early, many students said they would have waited all day and night for this game.
“Some people don’t really understand the magnitude of this game,” marketing sophomore Ethan Howell said. “You’ve got our guys who have been here for four years; Coop [Carson Cooper], Jaxon Kohler — those guys really know what this rivalry means. It just means more.”
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