Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo isn't scared of a difficult matchup, famously known for his successful performances in the postseason.
Adding to the difficulty of playing a regular season in the Big Ten, the Michigan State Spartans have announced three non-conference matchups for the 2025-26 season that are all against blue-blood college basketball programs.
Now, the Spartans will face the Duke Blue Devils in non-conference play, as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels and Kentucky Wildcats.
What is Michigan State's record versus Duke, UNC, and Kentucky?
Throughout history, Michigan State and Duke have faced each other 12 times. The Spartans have only won two of those matchups, the Blue Devils claiming victories in the 10 other matchups. Most recently, Duke earned a 74-65 win over Michigan State in a non-conference matchup during the 2023-24 season.
Michigan State and North Carolina have played 10 times, with MSU winning four of the games. Just last season, the Spartans earned a 94-91 overtime win over the Tar Heels in the Maui Invitational.
Lastly, the Spartans have earned six wins over the Kentucky Wildcats out of their 10 previous matchups. During the 2022-23 season, Michigan State defeated Kentucky 86-77 in a non-conference matchup at the beginning of the season.
Who will Michigan State face in Big Ten play?
The only conference teams that the Spartans will face twice during the 2025-26 regular season are Indiana, Michigan, and Rutgers. Michigan State will host Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, UCLA, and USC in their only matchups during the upcoming season.
MSU will visit Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Washington, and Wisconsin during the regular season to round out their regular-season conference schedule.
Dates and times for all three matchups have yet to be announced. However, the game against Duke is set to take place in East Lansing this fall. Similarly, the exact times and dates for Michigan State's Big Ten schedule have yet to be announced.