A new non-conference opponent was reported for Michigan State on Wednesday evening as Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes revealed that his Volunteers would be facing the Spartans in Nashville.
The news came as a bit of a surprise because Michigan State already had several big-time opponents on the 2026-27 schedule like Arkansas, Duke, and Gonzaga, but now Tennessee? Insane.
The scheduled game came as a bit of a surprise seeing as Michigan State and Tennessee have only played one time ever. Well, they played twice if you count the exhibition game before the 2023-24 season where Dalton Knecht put on a show and beat AJ Hoggard, Tyson Walker and the Spartans. It does makes sense when you think about it. Barnes and Tom Izzo are friends and they’re both nearing retirement age so it just makes sense.
Barnes turns 72 in July and Izzo turns 72 in January. They’re both staring retirement in the face.
However, it was a little surprising to see Izzo concede to a road game, but the latest report is that this isn’t just a one-time thing, it’s the first leg of a home-and-home.
Update: Tennessee and Michigan State have agreed to a home-and-home series that includes a return trip to Michigan State, source tells @Volquest_On3. The contract has not been signed yet. https://t.co/nK4E0F1dSO
— Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) April 30, 2026
Michigan State will head to Nashville this season in non-conference play, marking the first meeting with actual wins and losses on the line since that 2010 Elite Eight that Michigan State won 70-69. The Volunteers will then eventually head to the state of Michigan (Detroit or East Lansing) for a return trip on the back-end of this home-and-home.
As a fan, home-and-homes are the best. Neutral site games in non-conference play are cool, but there’s something different about a home game against a top-10 opponent or a road game against a top-10 opponent. The atmosphere just hits different.
For the sake of students, I hope the return trip is in East Lansing, but selfishly, I’d love to drive 15 minutes to see a potential top-10 battle in Detroit.
Can’t go wrong either way, but East Lansing would have the better atmosphere obviously.
Tom Izzo has another gauntlet on his hands
Judging by how he’s schedule, I don’t think Izzo is even considering retirement any time soon. Scheduling a home-and-home with Tennessee isn’t something you do if you think you’re going to be done in a year or two. This man is going to coach forever.
He’ll have to get through potentially his toughest gauntlet to date, though:
- UConn (exhibition)
- Arkansas (Detroit)
- Duke (Champion’s Classic)
- Gonzaga (Palm Springs, Calif.)
- Tennessee (Nashville)
This is just an insane group of non-conference opponents and if Michigan State wants to make a run at the Final Four in Detroit next season, it’ll need to be comfortable against these types of teams.
I have no doubt that Michigan State is going to be ready come March.
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