Michigan State’s climb in the AP poll is the easy headline. The real story is how quickly the Spartans have looked the part.
After two lopsided wins to open the 2026-27 season - 96-59 over Quinnipiac and 91-61 over Toledo - Michigan State moved from No. 6 to No. 5 in the latest AP Poll. The bump came after Arizona fell to UCLA in its season opener, dropping the Wildcats from No. 6 to No. 12 while UCLA jumped from No. 22 to No. 9.
That sets up a heavyweight matchup in Chicago, where the Spartans will meet Duke tomorrow night in the Champions Classic. Duke stayed at No. 2 after beating Army and Coastal Carolina, while Florida remains No. 1 with 53 first-place votes. Illinois is still No. 3 and the top-ranked Big Ten team, and UConn sits at No. 4 after beating Michigan in an NCAA Tournament Championship rematch.
Michigan State’s early surge has been powered by a balanced attack, starting with Jeremy Fears Jr. The guard leads the Spartans in both points per game at 12.5 and assists per game at 10.0, giving the offense a steady engine right out of the gate.
Sophomore Jordan Scott has also made a strong early impression. He’s been used all over the floor, giving Michigan State versatility on both ends while bringing the kind of offense and defensive disruption that has drawn Ausar Thompson-esque comparisons. His work on loose balls has stood out, too - the sort of hustle that fits right into Tom Izzo’s world.
Then there’s Coen Carr, who remains college basketball’s best dunker even if the rim-rocking has been a little quieter through two games. He’s still averaging 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds, and he’s 2-for-2 from three-point range. Against Duke, the Spartans may be hoping for a little extra juice from him.
Anton Bonke has given Michigan State exactly the kind of early production it was hoping for from its lone transfer. The 7-foot-2 big man posted a double-double in his first game as a Spartan and is averaging 10.0 points and a team-best 10.0 rebounds per game.
And the depth has been just as encouraging. All five Michigan State starters are scoring in double figures, including freshman Jasiah Jervis, who caught fire from deep in the last game by going 4-for-7 from three. He leads the team with five made three-pointers this season.
The ranking is one thing. The way Michigan State has gotten there is what makes the next test so interesting.
In Other News...
Pat Fitzgerald Just Dropped Michigan State Into A Huge CFP Debate
Pat Fitzgerald has already put Michigan State in the middle of one of college footballs biggest arguments, and he did it by taking a broad view of where the sport is headed. The Spartans head coach backed expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams and even floated the idea that a 48-team format could work, drawing parallels to the way the NCAA Tournament and the NFL have grown their postseason fields over time.
Fitzgerald also used the moment to sharpen his critique of how college football is run, saying coaches and players should have a bigger voice in the decisions that shape the sport. He pointed to the Protect College Sports Act as a possible step forward, while also casting doubt on whether it will actually get through, which leaves Michigan State tied to a larger debate that is still very much unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Tullis Just Gave Michigan State A Needed Backfield Spark
Jalen Tullis was not supposed to be a central part of Michigan States backfield plan, but injuries opened the door and he made the most of it in East Lansings biggest rivalry setting. In the Spartans win at Michigan Stadium, the running back handled 25 carries for a career-high 86 yards and gave MSU the kind of steady, physical presence it needed to tilt the ground game in its favor.
For a team trying to find its footing under Pat Fitzgerald, Tullis emergence mattered beyond one afternoon. Michigan State controlled possession and tempo with its run game, and the victory brought the Spartans their first Big Ten win under Fitzgerald while also snapping a six-game skid against Michigan. Whether Tullis role keeps growing is the next question, but he clearly gave this offense a spark it had been missing. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Found Unexpected Heroes In A Rivalry Win
Michigan States rivalry win over Michigan had the feel of a game the Spartans had to scrape together in real time, and they did it while missing several key players to injury. The 15-6 result snapped a six-game losing streak and turned into a night where the next-man-up approach mattered as much as any pregame plan, with younger and lesser-known contributors suddenly carrying major responsibility.
Sophomore wide receiver Bryson Williams was one of the most notable stand-ins after stepping in for an injured teammate, while Brandon Tullis delivered his best game yet with 86 yards on 25 carries. On defense, Eli Coenen was on the field for nearly every snap and helped anchor a unit that kept Michigan out of the end zone, giving Michigan State a hard-earned answer to a rivalry that had gone the other way for too long. [Read more 🡒]