Happy preseason AP Top 25 release day, everyone. The first college basketball rankings of the season are now live and Michigan State has made the top 10.
Michigan State was obviously expected to be ranked in the top 10 to start the season and some believe that the Spartans are top-five worthy, and the new rankings prove that AP voters agree. Michigan State is as good as a top-five team but they’re going to have to prove it early on.
That’s going to start on Tuesday with an exhibition game against a top-five visitor.
Michigan State is right where it’s supposed to be heading into the season.
BREAKING: Preseason College Basketball AP Poll🏀https://t.co/g4z17LVdWP pic.twitter.com/dYJufsSTG0
— On3 (@On3) October 19, 2026
The top four aren’t surprising with Florida, Duke, Illinois, and UConn leading the way but Arizona rounded out the top five right before Michigan State at No. 6.
This is exactly where everyone expected Michigan State to be.
Michigan State and Illinois are the only two Big Ten teams in the top 10 — again, as expected. Reigning national champion Michigan is No. 16 and USC and UCLA are at No. 21 and No. 22, rounding out the Top 25 for the Big Ten. It’s going to be a top-heavy conference this season and the top three are expected to be Illinois, Michigan State, and Michigan.
Buckle up because there are going to be some big-time showdowns between these three teams this season.
Michigan State will face 6 teams in the top 15
The first official AP Top 25 tells us one thing for certain: Michigan State’s schedule is going to be loaded with elite opponents.
Yes, we already knew this, but now it’s been confirmed.
Michigan State will play six teams in the top 15, seven in the top 20, and nine total ranked teams this season. Duke, Illinois, UConn, and Tennessee are all top-10 opponents this season with the first matchup coming on Tuesday in exhibition play against Dan Hurley and the Huskies. That’s going to be the perfect early test to see where the Spartans stand.
I’d love to give more of a hot take based on this No. 6 ranking, but it’s more than fair considering the Spartans were a Sweet 16 team a year ago and have a few more question marks than the five teams ahead of them.
OK, you want bold? Michigan State is going to spend time in the top three within the first couple of weeks after some big-time wins. Oh, and a win over UConn on Tuesday.
Tom Izzo likes his team for a reason.
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