Tom Izzo might want to send Matt Painter a thank-you card - just maybe not yet. Purdue’s win over Nebraska on Tuesday night didn’t just hand the Cornhuskers their first Big Ten loss of the season, it also gave Michigan State a fresh breath of life in the conference title race. And in a league as competitive and unpredictable as the Big Ten, every little edge counts.
Here’s the landscape: Nebraska, once undefeated in conference play, now finds itself in a three-way tie for third alongside Michigan State and Purdue. That’s a major shake-up. And while it might seem counterintuitive that a Purdue win helps the Spartans - given that the Boilermakers are in the same tie - it’s all about what lies ahead.
Nebraska had the softest remaining schedule among the top five contenders. Their final seven games?
Not a single ranked opponent. That’s the kind of stretch where a team can quietly rack up wins and stay in the hunt without taking too many punches.
But now, with a loss on their record, they’re no longer running away from the pack - they’re in it.
Meanwhile, Michigan State still has a head-to-head matchup with Purdue coming up. That’s the key.
The Spartans now control their own path. Beat Purdue, and they’re not just keeping pace - they’re positioning themselves to take the lead.
The standings are still topped by a Michigan team with just one conference loss, but the Spartans already took care of Illinois, handing the Illini their second Big Ten defeat. That win looms large, especially if this race comes down to tiebreakers.
And the Boilermakers? They’re not done doing favors for East Lansing just yet.
Purdue’s next big test comes on February 17, when they host No. 2 Michigan.
That’s the kind of heavyweight matchup that can swing the entire conference picture. If Painter’s crew can pull off another upset, the Wolverines would drop to two losses - and with Michigan State still on their schedule, the Spartans could gain even more ground.
Of course, Illinois isn’t going away quietly either. If they take care of Wisconsin, they could be in the best position of all, with their toughest remaining game being a home tilt against Michigan. That’s another one where Spartan fans might find themselves rooting for the maize and blue - just this once.
There’s still a lot of basketball to be played, and the Big Ten title race is shaping up to be a chess match with multiple pieces in motion. But thanks to Purdue’s timely win, Michigan State is back in the thick of it, with a real shot at defending its conference crown.