A demanding non‑conference road trip
Michigan State University has locked in its 2026‑27 exhibition slate, a schedule that blends home‑court comfort with a series of high‑profile road tests. The first test arrives on Oct. 25, when the Spartans host Marquette at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, marking the start of a home‑and‑home series with the Golden Eagles.
The non‑conference slate also includes a showdown with the University of Connecticut, a trip to Chicago’s United Center to meet Duke on Nov. 10, a Thanksgiving clash with Arkansas, and a December meeting with Gonzaga at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.
The exhibition schedule comes on the heels of a season in which the Spartans posted a 27‑8 record, going 15‑5 in Big Ten play. Point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. returns after averaging 15.2 points and 9.4 assists per game, while Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke joins the roster to add frontcourt depth.
Across the state line, Marquette will look to rebound from a rare miss of the NCAA Tournament last year under coach Shaka Smart, a coach against whom Tom Izzo holds a 2‑0 record, including a victory in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
With a combined history of 33‑23 in favor of the Spartans and a five‑game winning streak against the Golden Eagles, the upcoming matchups promise both a test of depth and a chance to fine‑tune strategies before the regular season begins.