A day after their entire schedule’s TV channel and tip-off times were announced, besides a select few, the Spartans revealed the Michigan State vs Tennessee tip-off time.
Michigan State and Tennessee are meeting up for one of the biggest showdowns in early-season non-conference play in Knoxville and it’ll be a late tip.
That’s right, the fanbase is already groaning about this one.
UPDATE: Our game @ Tennessee will tip at 9 PM ET on ESPN2 https://t.co/rUGRIBw2qO
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) October 7, 2026
Michigan State only has a couple of post-9 p.m. ET tips this season like USC (Jan. 12) and Iowa (Feb. 16) and this is now the third. Like the other two later games, Michigan State will be on the road for this one which gives the Volunteers a huge advantage. Not only are they at home but now they’ll be home and playing in front of a fired-up crowd that’s been waiting all day for a top-10 showdown.
The crowd in Knoxville is usually one of the best in college basketball and that will be no different on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Spartans are also going to be playing on ESPN2 which is surprising considering how big of a game it is.
That Tuesday is going to be a fun day of college hoops for all of us getting that basketball itch as it features MSU vs. Tennessee, Illinois vs. Duke, Arkansas vs. Indiana, Houston vs. Rutgers, and Florida vs. Notre Dame. That’ll be one of the first big Tuesdays of the college basketball season.
But Michigan State fans can stop the groaning and complaining about the 9 p.m. start seeing as it’s one of just three late games this season. It’ll be OK.
Only one Michigan State tip-off time remains TBD
With the announcement of the Tennessee tip-off time (I know, boo again), that means that there’s only one un-announced time left on the Spartans’ 2026-27 schedule.
And that’s Gonzaga.
Bad news for Michigan State fans who don’t like the Tennessee tip-off time, there’s a good chance the Gonzaga game is tipping at 9 p.m. ET or later, too.
For one, it’s a prime game that’ll pin two ranked teams against each other (more than likely). Two, there’s an Arkansas vs. Arizona game on that same day at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN and I doubt CBS will want to have another big game on at the same time as to not lose viewers — Ohio State vs. Kansas and Wisconsin vs. Auburn are happening in the afternoon on that same Saturday. And three, the Breslin Center isn’t hosting a single 9 p.m. ET tip this season yet.
All of this combined is a recipe for another late tip against a Top 25 opponent.
Expect another late start for the Gonzaga game on Dec. 19.
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