Date announced for annual Oakland vs. Michigan State basketball game

It’s that time of the year where the Michigan State basketball schedule usually begins taking shape.

We already know who the Spartans will be playing during the Big Ten season (just not specific dates yet) and we also know a few non-conference opponents (Champions Classic and the Maui Invitational). Still, MSU just announced another non-conference opponent for the upcoming season.

Jon Rothstein with CBS Sports has released that Michigan State will play Oakland in a neutral site game on Dec. 17.

Oakland being on the schedule is no surprise as the Spartans have played the Golden Grizzlies each of the last 12 seasons. The difference this year, however, is that the game will be played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit instead of in East Lansing. This isn’t an abnormal thing for this rivalry either as the last time this game was in Detroit was only a few seasons ago in 2021.

This will be the 23rd meeting all-time between Michigan State and Oakland, and it’s safe to say that the Spartans have been dominant. The Spartans have a perfect 22-0 record against the Golden Grizzlies which is extremely impressive. Sure this is a team MSU will always be expected to beat, but upsets happen in college basketball, so for Michigan State to avoid the upset after this many matchups is no small feat.

There are still many more games yet to be announced on MSU’s schedule, but the fact that it’s beginning to take shape is extremely exciting. This is a huge year for the program and Tom Izzo’s legacy, and I for one can’t wait for the season to arrive.