Nineteen games into the 2025-26 season, Michigan State basketball is sitting at 17-2 overall and 7-1 in Big Ten play. That’s not just a good record - it’s the kind of mark that usually turns heads. And yet, somehow, the Spartans are flying under the radar nationally, despite putting together one of the more complete résumés in college basketball.
Let’s be clear: Michigan State isn’t playing perfect basketball. There have been stretches where the offense has sputtered or the energy hasn’t quite matched Tom Izzo’s trademark intensity.
But here’s the thing - they’re still winning. And not just squeaking by.
The Spartans have rattled off five straight Big Ten wins, each by double digits. That’s the kind of dominance that should be drawing more national attention.
Izzo’s group is building serious momentum heading into a marquee matchup against Michigan on Jan. 30 in East Lansing. That one’s going to be circled in red ink.
A rivalry game, at home, with the Spartans surging? Expect the Breslin Center to be electric.
A win there could finally shift the national conversation - or at least it should.
Because right now, Michigan State isn’t getting the respect its record and performance deserve. Despite being ranked in the top 10 nationally, the Spartans are still being treated like a second-tier contender. And when you look at the details, that doesn’t really add up.
Their two losses? A six-point defeat to Duke - a game Michigan State led late before letting it slip - and a two-point heartbreaker on the road at Nebraska.
That’s it. Two close losses, both of which were winnable.
Flip those results, and this team is sitting at a perfect 19-0 with wins over Nebraska, Duke, Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina. That’s not just a top-10 résumé - that’s No. 1 seed territory.
But instead of being talked about as a top contender, Michigan State is being slotted as a potential 3-seed. Meanwhile, teams like Illinois - with a 16-3 record and a less impressive list of wins - are being floated as 2-seeds. It’s a head-scratcher.
And it’s not just bracket projections. The broader discourse around this team has been lukewarm at best.
One college basketball podcast recently listed Michigan State among nine teams that can’t win a national title this year. That’s a bold claim about a team with the nation’s top-ranked defense and an offense that ranks in the top 60 - especially when that team has a Hall of Fame coach and a roster loaded with experience and talent.
Another post making the rounds on social media called the Spartans “pretenders,” while hyping up teams like Duke, Texas Tech, and Illinois as legitimate title threats. Again - Michigan State went toe-to-toe with Duke and should’ve walked away with the win. And as for Illinois, the consistent national love they get is something that continues to puzzle a lot of Big Ten observers.
This isn’t new territory for Izzo. His teams have made a habit of peaking late, playing their best basketball when the stakes are highest, and proving doubters wrong in March. But it’s still remarkable how often Michigan State gets overlooked, even while checking all the boxes of a contender: elite defense, battle-tested roster, quality wins, and a coach who’s been to eight Final Fours.
So here we are again - Michigan State is rolling through its Big Ten schedule, locking teams down on defense, and still not getting the national buzz they’ve earned. It's a familiar script.
But if history’s any guide, Izzo and the Spartans are just fine with that. March is coming. And when it does, don’t be surprised if Michigan State is still standing - and making a lot of people eat their words.