Michigan State wants Bama.

The Spartans open the Phil Knight Invitational in Portland with a Thanksgiving matchup against the No. 18 Crimson Tide. From, there, it’ll be on to two more as-yet undetermined opponents on Friday and Sunday in one of the toughest scheduling stretches of Michigan State’s season.

• Watch the Michigan State Spartans on FuboTV (7-day free trial)

GAME INFORMATION

• Who: No. 12 Michigan State (3-1) vs. No. 18 Alabama (4-0)
• When: 10:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 24
• Where: Moda Center, Portland, Ore.
• Latest line: Alabama -1
• Visit MLive’s Betting Home for latest odds & sportsbook promos

HOW TO WATCH

TV Network: ESPN

Streaming options:

• FuboTV (7-day free trial): Stream live sports and TV with ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN & top channels without cable. DVR included. Start watching free. No contract, cancel anytime.
• Sling | WatchESPN | Hulu + Live TV | YouTube TV

Major Cable Providers

• Comcast: Channel 32/202(HD) | Streaming
• Spectrum: Channel 34/773(HD) | Streaming
• Dish: Channel 140 | Streaming
• DIRECTV: Channel 209 | Streaming

*Channel numbers listed are for Michigan subscribers and may change by geographic area. Check local listings.

HOW TO LISTEN

Radio Network: Spartan Media Network

• Affiliates: WJR-AM 760 Detroit; WJIM-AM 1240/WMMQ-FM 94.9 Lansing; 22 other Michigan-based affiliates listed on MSUSpartans.com
• Live streaming: MSUSpartans.com | iPhone app | Android app
• Satellite: Sirius Ch. 134; XM Ch. 190; SiriusXM.com Ch. 961

GAME NOTES

• Michigan State and Alabama have played only twice before: in 1998, a 75-58 Michigan State win, and in 1983, a 81-69 Alabama win.

• Michigan State sophomore guard Jaden Akins is questionable for Thursday’s game after suffering a left foot injury late in the Spartans’ Friday game against Villanova.

• Alabama freshman forward Brandon Miller is averaging a team-best 20.3 points per game, is second on the team with 9.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 51.7 percent from the field. He was named SEC freshman of the week on Monday.

• Michigan State will play either Oregon or Connecticut on Friday in its second game of the PKI. On Sunday, the Spartans will play either North Carolina, Villanova, Iowa State or Portland.

• Alabama coach Nate Oats spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Romulus High School from 2002-13 and won the 2013 MHSAA Class A state title at the Breslin Center. He previously worked as a coach at Michigan State’s summer basketball camps.

PRE-GAME LINKS

Nate Oats ‘didn’t ever dream of’ coaching against Tom Izzo, Michigan State

Scouting the PKI field: A look at Michigan State’s potential opponents in Portland

Michigan State rededicated itself to defense and the results are showing

Michigan State’s Jaden Akins uncertain again after reinjuring foot

What we’ve learned about Michigan State through four games