Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State basketball's 2025-26 Big Ten schedule is set up favorably for repeat

ByConnor Muldowney|
Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) aims before attempts a free throw against Auburn during the second half of the Elite Eight round of NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) aims before attempts a free throw against Auburn during the second half of the Elite Eight round of NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. on Sunday, March 30, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

We may be in the middle of September, but that doesn't mean the excitement for Michigan State basketball's return has subsided.

The Spartans are going to be one of the better teams in the Big Ten again, and although Michigan State is the reigning conference champion, some experts are overlooking Tom Izzo's team. And, honestly, that's exactly where he wants to be.

The expectations last season were not that high after losing Malik Hall, Tyson Walker, AJ Hoggard, and Mady Sissoko, but the Spartans went on to win the Big Ten by three games and make the Elite Eight. There was some attrition this past offseason, too, but a repeat is possible.

And with the official release of the 2025-26 Big Ten schedule, it feels like a repeat isn't just a long-shot like it seemed a few months ago. It's actually very possible.

The Big Ten season will tip off on Dec. 2 with a home game against Iowa before hosting Duke a few days later. The Hawkeyes will be tough, and they got a nice coaching upgrade, in my opinion. The Spartans will also travel to Penn State on Dec. 13 to complete that annual two-game stretch of December Big Ten games. That should start the Spartans 2-0 in league play.

Michigan State will then get back to Big Ten play on Jan. 2 at Nebraska before a three-game home stand against USC, Northwestern, and Indiana. The Spartans should win all of those.

The Spartans will head out west to face a mediocre Washington team before taking on Oregon three days later. I'm expecting a split there. They then go home and away every other game for the next three weeks before the toughest stretch ends the regular season.

What qualifies as the "toughest" stretch? Michigan State gets UCLA and Ohio State at home before going to Purdue and Indiana in back-to-back games. The Spartans will then host Rutgers and end the season at Michigan (potentially with a Big Ten title on the line).

All-in-all, I love the way the schedule shapes up. If all goes as planned, Michigan State should start conference play 7-0 before a first loss at Oregon. There are only 3-4 games that I see being likely losses. The rest are likely wins or toss-ups.

A repeat is not out of the question, despite what the national media wants you to believe.

Home/Spartans Basketball