We’re about to face one of the longest summers and offseasons in Michigan State basketball history because of the anticipation that comes with the Spartans bringing back an All-American point guard, the nation’s best athlete, two really talented sophomores, a sharpshooter, and a transfer that missed the entire 2025-26 season with an injury.
The Spartans are going to have one of the best teams in college basketball and everyone has been talking about Tom Izzo winning his second national title. This is his best chance in a while.
Michigan State isn’t just returning a really talented team and five of its top eight scorers from last season’s 27-8 team that made the Sweet 16, but it’s also bringing in a top-five recruiting class and a 7-foot-2 center transfer from Charlotte. This team is going to have some of the most impressive depth in the country.
Izzo even said that this may not be his most talented but it’s one of his most complete teams.
With all of that in mind, where will the Spartans be ranked to start the season?
It may seem like a controversial take, but this is a top five team in college basketball. If AP voters have any sense, they’re going to rank the Spartans in that top five to start the season.
Why Michigan State is a top 5 team
I think there are only two teams that 100 percent should be ranked ahead of the Spartans. One is Duke which feels like it brought in whoever it wanted this offseason and the other is Florida which essentially brings everyone back from a 27-8 team.
Michigan could also probably be in that group because it just won the national title, but I don’t think people are realizing just how tough it’s going to be to replace Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Morez Johnson. The Wolverines did add some talented transfers and they brought back Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney so I’ll give them a top-three spot too.
Michigan State should be right after those three, in my opinion. I’ve seen a lot of outlets put UConn, Illinois, and even Texas ahead of the Spartans, but Michigan State has more returning and coming in than each of those, in my opinion. Illinois is really close and they’re going to be one of the top three Big Ten contenders along with Michigan State and Michigan, but I have to give the Spartans an edge based on last year’s result and the fact that both teams got better.
If I’m predicting an exact ranking, I’ll go with Michigan State at No. 4.
Is that controversial? It shouldn’t be.
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