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Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Michigan State is putting together one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation.
As he does every season, Tom Izzo is loading up the Spartans’ non-conference slate with some of the biggest matchups and most exciting games in college basketball.
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The latest game to officially become set in stone was announced through the Michigan State basketball social media accounts. While we already knew the matchup was expected to happen, it’s now official. On December 19, the Spartans will square off against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in Palm Springs, California, as part of the Acrisure Series, giving college basketball fans an early Christmas present.
So let’s take a look at all of the confirmed non-conference matchups Michigan State has lined up so far before the gauntlet of Big Ten play begins. If this schedule wasn’t difficult enough already, conference play will only add another layer of challenges.
Thankfully, unlike college football, losing a few games during the regular season doesn’t derail your entire season. In fact, playing against elite competition can often make a team better and prepare it for a deep NCAA Tournament run.
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We already know the Spartans will open with two exhibition games against some of the top programs in the country.
Michigan State will once again face UConn in an exhibition matchup. Fans got a preview of this showdown last season when the Huskies defeated the Spartans in an exhibition before the two teams met again in the Sweet 16, where UConn came away with another victory.
Now, the Spartans get another opportunity to measure themselves against one of the nation’s premier programs. While it won’t count in the standings, it could once again serve as a preview of a potential NCAA Tournament matchup.
It was also announced that Izzo will have his team face Marquette in another exhibition game. That matchup features two programs that consistently make noise in March and should be another…
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Publish date : 2026-07-13 16:09:00
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