Izzo Absent as Michigan State Opens NCAA in Buffalo
Selection Sunday on March 15, 2026, set Michigan State’s NCAA path. The Spartans drew No. 3 in the East region. They will face North Dakota State, a 14-seed, in Buffalo.
Broadcasting figure will not make the trip
Dom Izzo, a longtime Fargo broadcaster, said he will not travel to KeyBank Center. He is the sports director at WDAY-TV and a play-by-play voice for NDSU teams.
His absence stems from a family medical appointment. His wife has surgery scheduled for Friday, and he plans to remain nearby.
Game details and records
The first-round meeting is set for Thursday, March 19, at 4:05 p.m. on TNT. Michigan State enters at 25-7. North Dakota State arrives at 27-7.
Fans will see the Spartans open NCAA competition in Buffalo against the Bison. The matchup pits a veteran Big Ten program against a red-hot mid-major.
Past near-misses and attempts to connect
Dom has tried for years to connect with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. Those attempts have not produced an interview.
He also missed earlier opportunities tied to March Madness. In 2009 NDSU made its first NCAA appearance and lost a close game to Kansas in Minneapolis. Michigan State was in that region, and later reached the Final Four in Detroit.
In 2019, when Michigan State returned to the Final Four in Minneapolis, Dom again could not make the trip from Fargo.
Personal ties and local lore
Tom Izzo mentioned North Dakota ties during a recent press conference. He recalled scouting drives to the state and longtime acquaintances there.
One friend is Jerry Rosburg, an NDSU alumnus. Rosburg won two national titles, earned All-America honors in 1978, and was a college roommate of Izzo and Steve Mariucci at Northern Michigan.
Reaction at home
Dom has earned multiple North Dakota Sportscaster of the Year awards. Since Selection Sunday, his phone and inbox have lit up.
He hosts a radio show called “Hot Mic with Dom Izzo.” Listeners have sent jokes and comparisons between his résumé and the coach’s.
With Izzo absent from Buffalo, Michigan State opens NCAA play in KeyBank Center. Dom will follow the game from Fargo, and Filmogaz.com will track updates.
