As is expected, Michigan State is projected to be one of the best teams in college basketball next season. Almost every major publication has the Spartans ranked in the top 10 of their way-too-early Top 25 for the 2026-27 season.
Even when Jeremy Fears was teetering on the edge of a decision to leave for the NBA or come back for his junior year, most college hoops experts saw Michigan State as a top team.
Fears does take the Spartans to another level and after the withdrawal deadline, everyone is posting their updated preseason projections with most rosters set. There are obviously some players who have still yet to decide on new homes like Milan Momcilovic (a former Spartan target) and he could shake up the projected Top 25s, but it’s pretty clear who the top teams are.
Michigan State is going to be in every conversation regarding national title contenders, and CBS Sports agrees.
In Gary Parrish’s latest Top 25 And 1, he has the Spartans higher than most other publications. He lists them as the No. 6 team in the country right behind UConn and Illinois. His top three teams are Florida, Duke, and Michigan — Michigan State plays all but one of the teams ahead of them.
Parrish cited the fact that Michigan State returns five of its top eight scorers from last year and it also brings in an elite recruiting class and Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke.
Michigan State is going to be good, but that schedule — woof.
Michigan State’s 2026-27 schedule is unreal
The Spartans have already scheduled non-conference games with Duke (No. 2), Arkansas (No. 12), Gonzaga (No. 9), and Tennessee (No. 16). That’s not even including the exhibition contest against UConn (No. 5) that’ll feel like a Final Four game.
Michigan State is going to have to earn its top ranking next season with all of these teams on the schedule in non-conference play.
Big Ten play isn’t going to be any easier with Michigan (No. 3), Illinois (No. 4), USC (No. 17), Purdue (No. 19), Indiana (No. 21), and Nebraska (No. 26) all making Parrish’s Top 25 And 1. The conference is going to be pretty deep next season but the top three teams are pretty clear right now.
If you’re a fan of elite non-conference matchups, you could basically close your eyes and pick a random Michigan State game and it’ll probably be against a ranked team.
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