Michigan State’s men’s basketball team will open its 2026‑27 campaign on November 17 in Knoxville, Tennessee, facing the Volunteers in the first meeting of a home‑and‑home series that will resume in the 2027‑28 season at the Breslin Center.
The matchup is part of a schedule that pits the Spartans against several preseason top‑10 programs, including Duke, Arkansas and Gonzaga, each of which entered the year with high rankings and national attention.
A New Chapter for the Spartans
Coach Tom Izzo, who is making his inaugural trip to Knoxville as head coach, inherits a roster bolstered by returners from last season’s Sweet 16 run and a top‑10 recruiting class, giving the team a depth that many analysts project could push them into the Final Four conversation.
The Spartans hold a 5‑2 all‑time edge over Tennessee, highlighted by a 70‑69 victory in the 2010 NCAA Tournament, and Izzo’s personal record against Tennessee’s Rick Barnes stands at 6‑4, adding a subtle narrative of redemption for the upcoming contest.
Izzo’s long‑standing partnership with former coach Jud Heathcote and the emergence of point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., a redshirt junior who led the team in scoring and assists last season, underscore the blend of experience and fresh talent that defines this squad.