Michigan State’s 2025-26 Nonconference Schedule Revealed: Shocking Matchups That Could Make or Break Their Season

You know, when it comes to college hoops, there’s a certain rhythm to how things unfold every season. Tom Izzo, now in his 31st year at Michigan State, is like a maestro conducting a familiar symphony — blending the old with the new, peppering the schedule with blueblood matchups and hometown rivals alike. This time around, the Spartans are gearing up for another exciting run, opening the books with exhibition games that promise both nostalgia and high stakes: a homecoming against Bowling Green led by an Izzo alum, followed by a road test against the back-to-back national champs, Connecticut. Then, as the calendar flips, Breslin Center transforms into a battleground hosting marquee clashes against Kentucky, Duke, and North Carolina, among others. Amid all the hustle, you can’t help but feel that mix of anticipation and admiration for a program that, despite the ups and downs of college basketball, keeps delivering moments worth savoring. The nonconference lineup looks like a well-crafted puzzle — you just know the pieces will fit together for another memorable Spartan season. LEARN MORE

The first phase of Tom Izzo’s 31st season looks much like many of his previous Michigan State basketball nonconference schedules.

Some blueblood opponents. Some local flavor. Some old faces in new places.

And some big-time visitors to Breslin Center this winter.

The Spartans will open with a pair of exhibition games, the first on Oct. 23 against Bowling Green, where former Izzo point guard Tum-Tum Nairn is the associate head coach. They’ll then play a rare road exhibition game against 2023 and 2024 national champion Connecticut on Oct. 28 in Storrs, Connecticut.

MSU tips off the regular season with three straight home games, opening against Colgate on Nov. 3 before a Nov. 8 visit from John Calipari and Arkansas that is part of a home-and-home series. The Spartans return the visit to Fayetteville next season.

Other major highlights include the Nov. 18 game against Kentucky in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York. MSU will face North Carolina on Nov. 27 in Florida as part of the Fort Myers Tip-Off. And the Spartans welcome Duke to Breslin on Dec. 6, which is a return game for moving the 2020 Champions Classic from a neutral site to the fan-free Blue Devils’ Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Izzo will face two in-state foes in the nonconference slate, starting with a Nov. 21 visit from Detroit and coach Mark Montgomery, a former MSU point guard and Izzo assistant. The Spartans also will head to Little Caesars Arena to face his good friend Greg Kampe and Oakland on Dec. 20, the 13th straight year the two programs will face each other and their fourth time at LCA.

Four of the 11 opponents played in the NCAA tournament last season, while MSU went 30-7 and advanced to Izzo’s 11th Elite Eight after winning his record-tying 11th regular-season Big Ten title.

Times and television for games, along with the 20-game Big Ten schedule, will be announced at a later date. Here is the complete list of MSU’s nonconference opponents (*exhibition game).

Oct. 23 Bowling Green*

Oct. 28 at Connecticut*

Nov. 3 Colgate

Nov. 8Arkansas

Nov. 13 San Jose State

Nov. 18 vs. Kentucky (Champions Classic, New York)

Nov. 21 Detroit

Nov. 25 East Carolina (Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Florida)

Nov. 27 East Carolina (Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Florida)

Dec. 6Duke

Dec. 16 Toledo

Dec. 20 vs. Oakland (Little Caesars Arena, Detroit)

Dec. 29 Cornell

Contact Chris Solari:[email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.

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