Illinois vs. Michigan State: The Big Ten Game of the Year?

The Big Ten basketball schedule was released Wednesday of last week, meaning the Illini’s schedule is now set for the 2026-27 season. The conference will once again play a 20-game schedule, with every team facing each opponent at least once. Illinois will play every team once and face Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin twice.

It will be another challenging slate for the Illini, as the Big Ten should once again be one of the best conferences in college basketball. Illinois and Michigan State are viewed as the top two teams in the league by multiple preseason outlets.

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According to Bart Torvik, Illinois is the projected favorite in the Big Ten and the No. 6 team nationally, while Michigan State is No. 2 in the conference and No. 10 nationally. EvanMiya recently released his preseason rankings, with Illinois coming in at No. 3 nationally and Michigan State at No. 9.

The game that most fans will have circled on the conference schedule is Friday, February 5, when the Illini host the Spartans. The projected top two teams in the conference will meet just once this season, and the game could have a major impact on the Big Ten regular-season title race.

These two teams have had some battles over the last few years, and I expect the 2027 matchup to be more of the same. Michigan State won last year’s meeting in overtime in East Lansing, and the Spartans have won the last four matchups. Illinois will be looking to end that streak on its home court.

Tom Izzo is 71 years old, and Illinois likely will not host Michigan State next season, making this potentially Izzo’s final game at the State Farm Center. Izzo is one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history and has shown no signs of slowing down, but there is no guarantee he will still be coaching in two seasons. Izzo has one national championship on his resume and will have a chance to add a second this season.

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

All-Big Ten point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. will once again be one of the…

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Publish date : 2026-09-22 13:00:00

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