The Frozen Four field is set, with the Michigan Wolverines facing the Denver Pioneers and the North Dakota Flying Hawks taking on the Wisconsin Badgers in Las Vegas.
It’s a somewhat surprising field, given the teams beaten to get here. Denver was able to avenge last year’s Frozen Four loss to Western Michigan to advance to its 21st Frozen Four, while Michigan became the only one of the three teams in the state playing in the second round to make the trip to Sin City.
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REQUIRED READING: Who’s in Frozen Four? Updated NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament bracket, schedule
Wisconsin stunned No. 3 overall seed Michigan State in overtime and is looking to became the second team to have both the men and women win a hockey championship since … Wisconsin in 2006. It will have its work cut out for it against the North Dakota Flying Hawks, who are making their first Frozen Four appearance since winning the title 10 years ago in 2016.
So who will come out on top? USA TODAY Sports makes its picks for who will win this year’s Frozen Four.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
No. 2 Michigan State visits No. 5 Penn State in a Big Ten showdown at University Park, with frigid 20‑degree temperatures expected for one of the coldest games either team faces this season.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
No. 2 Michigan State visits No. 5 Penn State in a Big Ten showdown at University Park, with frigid 20‑degree temperatures expected for one of the coldest games either team faces this season.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Dane Dowiak (19) and defenseman Jarod Crespo (24) and forward JJ Wiebusch (86) walk out to the rink before the start of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
A general view during the first period of the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
A general view during the first period of the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State Nittany Lions goaltender Josh Fleming (34) and goaltender Chris McFayden (30) walk out to the rink before the start of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State Nittany Lions defenseman Carter Schade (2) passes the puck as Michigan State Spartans forward Shane Vansaghi (23) defends in the first period at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
A general view before the start of the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Dane Dowiak (19) skates with the puck during the first period against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
The Penn State Nittany Lions men’s hockey team lines up during the player introductions before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Michigan State Spartans forward Daniel Russell (20) celebrates his goal with forward Charlie Stramel (15) and forward Porter Martone (22) during the first period against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Gavin McKenna (72) during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Michigan State Spartans forward Daniel Russell (20) celebrates his goal with forward Charlie Stramel (15) during the first period against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State Nittany Lions football head coach Matt Campbell (center) performs the ceremonial puck drop to Michigan State Spartans defenseman Matt Basgall (9) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Dane Dowiak (19) at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Ben Schoen (12) and Michigan State Spartans defenseman Maxim Strbák (8) battle for the puck during the first period at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Matt DiMarsico (14) moves the puck across the ice during the first period against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Michigan State Spartans goaltender Trey Augustine (1) stops the puck during the first period against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
A general view of the ice hockey rink inside of Beaver Stadium prior to the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Penn State Nittany Lions on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Michigan State Spartans goaltender Trey Augustine (1) leads his team prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State men’s hockey players and coaches arrive for a Big Ten hockey game against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium on January 31, 2026, in State College.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State’s Gavin McKenna, center, arrives with the team for a Big Ten hockey game against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium on January 31, 2026, in State College.
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See Penn State vs. Michigan State in outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
Penn State Nittany Lions forward Gavin McKenna (72) looks to shoot the puck during the first period against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
USA TODAY Sports Frozen Four expert predictionsKevin Skiver, USA TODAY
Regions listed in parentheses, predicted semifinal winners bold.
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North Dakota (Sioux Falls)
In an annoyingly chalky pick, this just kind of feels like Michigan’s year. It’s a true blue-blood field, but Michigan has made the Frozen Four in four of the past five years. This might be its best team yet, with T.J. Hughes and Michael Hage leading the way. Jack Ivankovic will have to step up in the net, but the experience of this team wins out. North Dakota arguably has the best player left in the tournament, with Keaton Verhoeff serving as a key blue-liner and potential top five NHL entry draft pick. Jan Spunar is yet to give up a goal for the Flying Hawks, who traipsed through the Sioux Falls regional. Ultimately, however, the Wolverines do enough to overcome the stifling North Dakota backcheck and win their first championship in 28 years.
Championship prediction: Michigan 3, North Dakota 2 (OT)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Frozen Four predictions, picks for 2026 NCAA hockey tournament