Michigan State plans to do ManningCast-style broadcast at NCAA Tournament

Michigan State plans to do a ManningCast-style broadcast of the NCAA Tournament game against Davidson this weekend, per The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy. Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne and receiver Jayden Reed, who also played high school basketball together, will co-host the broadcast.

The second-screen experience will air live on Michigan State’s Facebook page simultaneously to the official CBS broadcast. It is part of an NIL deal with Playfly Sports, which hopes this is just the first edition of what it is calling “Campus Cast Live.”

“Campus Cast Live represents the very best of what NIL can and should be,” Playfly Sports president Christy Hedgpeth said. “Not only will student athletes be compensated for their efforts, but more importantly, they will also receive valuable broadcasting experience and career development opportunities. At the same time, this new platform represents highly compelling content with which Playfly can engage college sports fans and deliver value to our brand partners. We are setting the pace for how MMR firms can drive strategic outcomes for school partners through NIL.”

The unique social cast has already gained sponsorships from Buick and McDonald’s, as well as multiple businesses in the East Lansing area. Graduate Hotel, a chain centered around college towns with a location in East Lansing, has even agreed to host the broadcast.

Thorne broke the Michigan State single-season passing touchdowns record this past season after throwing 27. Set to enter his junior season with the Spartans, he has aspirations of being one of the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks in 2022. The return of Reed should help his cause immensely. The 6-foot, 185-pound receiver was named a first team All-American selection this past season after finishing with 1,026 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.

Given their chemistry on the field and longtime friendship, Playfly Sports couldn’t have come up with a better pair of co-hosts than Thorne and Reed.

“We are fortunate to have great partners within Spartan Athletics who quickly got behind the idea as a way to amplify the men’s basketball tournament run,” Playfly Sports vice president Kim Kassel said. “In Payton and Jayden, we have two life-long friends and teammates whose personalities fir well for this broadcast. Our goal is to then roll out Campus Cast Live to our Playfly schools nationwide.”

Seventh-seeded Michigan State is set to open NCAA Tournament play against Davidson at 9:40 p.m. ET Friday in Greenville, South Carolina. Thorne and Reed will continue host alternate broadcasts to the games as far as the Spartans advance.