Michigan State football, basketball in elite company during 2021-22 season

Michigan State football and basketball are in some elite company during the 2021-22 season as they’re both currently ranked in the top 10.

What a year it’s been for the Michigan State football and basketball programs.

The football program went 10-2 during the regular season and earned its first New Year’s Six bowl berth since 2015 when the Spartans went to the College Football Playoff. Mel Tucker turned the program around in his second season and earned a massive extension that was reported at 10 years and $95 million. The Peach Bowl berth against Pitt was made possible by a final playoff ranking of No. 10.

Tom Izzo and the basketball program began the 2021-22 season unranked and there were many who expected the Spartans to be relatively average. But fast forward to the end of December and Michigan State is 10-2 and also ranked No. 10 in the country as of Monday.

Both the football and basketball programs appear in the top 10 of their respective sports and while that could soon change with Big Ten play approaching for the latter and a Peach Bowl matchup for the former, it still puts the Spartans in elite company.

Only one school is doing it like Michigan State football, basketball

When Tucker was hired as Michigan State’s next head coach following the retirement of Mark Dantonio, he stated that he wanted to build a winning culture much like Izzo has done.

Tucker wanted to join Izzo as one of the best basketball-football program duos in the country and be one of those dual-sport schools that excel at both.

In year two, he’s doing just that.

Michigan State football is ranked No. 10 and the basketball team finally climbed into the top-10 for the first time this season after a 10-2 start. Only one other school can say that both their football and basketball programs are ranked in the top 10 currently: Baylor.

The Bears actually beat Izzo and Michigan State in the Battle 4 Atlantis, but it was a great game for 30 minutes with the Spartans putting up a fight. Now Baylor is the No. 1 team in college basketball. Dave Aranda and the football program won the Big 12 and will now be facing Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl as the No. 7 team in the country.

Two schools are considered elite in both sports right now: Michigan State and Baylor.

Not too shabby.