Michigan State Cracks the Top 10, Sets Stage for Massive Week Ahead
The holiday season may have just kicked off, but for Michigan State basketball, the gifts are already rolling in. The latest AP Top 25 is out, and the Spartans have officially broken into the top 10 - landing at No. 7 after a statement win over a ranked opponent last week. It’s their first top-10 appearance of the season, and it comes at a time when Tom Izzo’s squad is starting to look like the real deal.
Michigan State jumped four spots from No. 11, continuing a steady climb that’s seen them rise 15 places from their preseason ranking of No. 22.
And they didn’t just sneak in - they earned it, putting together a convincing case with a strong week that included a dominant performance against then-No. 16 North Carolina.
That Thanksgiving Day win was more than just a notch in the win column. It was a tone-setter.
While the Detroit Lions were busy letting another Turkey Day game slip away, the Spartans gave Michigan fans something to cheer about. Their 7-0 start includes wins over three ranked teams, and they’ve looked more cohesive with each outing.
A big part of that cohesion? Freshman forward Coen Carr, whose highlight-reel athleticism is turning heads - and not just in East Lansing.
Carr’s vertical game is drawing serious NBA attention, and while he’s currently the only Spartan showing up in early mock drafts, his rise has been hard to ignore. Most projections have him going late in the first or early in the second round, but if his trajectory continues, that stock could climb.
Inside, Jaxon Kohler is doing the heavy lifting. He’s leading the team in both scoring and rebounding, providing the kind of interior presence that gives Michigan State a reliable foundation on both ends.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Fears Jr. has taken the keys to the offense and is driving with confidence - dishing out a nation-leading 9.7 assists per game. That’s not just good; that’s elite-level distribution, and it’s keeping the Spartans’ offense humming.
But this isn't a top-heavy team. Michigan State’s depth is starting to show, and that’s where things get really interesting.
Bench players like Kur Teng are coming in and making an impact, while freshmen Cam Ward and Jordan Scott are steadily carving out roles of their own. Izzo has always emphasized player development, and this year’s rotation is starting to reflect that classic Spartan blueprint - tough, team-oriented, and built to last.
Still, even with all that momentum, Michigan State isn’t the top-ranked team in its own state. That honor belongs to Michigan, which jumped to No. 3 in the latest poll and actually received more first-place votes (15) than No.
2 Arizona. The Wolverines are rolling, but the Spartans are right there, just four spots behind at No.
And now comes the real test.
This week, Michigan State faces two massive matchups that could reshape the top of the AP Poll. First, they’ll open Big Ten play against undefeated Iowa on Tuesday - a battle of unbeatens that’s sure to carry weight in the rankings.
Then, on Saturday, it’s the main event: **No. 7 Michigan State vs.
No. 4 Duke** at the Breslin Center.
That’s a marquee showdown with real implications, not just for rankings, but for March seeding down the line.
The Spartans have already faced three ranked teams - and beaten them all. Now they’re gearing up for a fourth, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win over Duke, especially at home, could catapult Michigan State into the top five and cement their status as a legitimate national contender.
Here’s how the AP Top 25 looks heading into the first full week of December:
- Purdue (40 first-place votes)
- Arizona (6)
- Michigan (15)
- Duke
- UConn
- Louisville
- Michigan State
- Houston
- BYU
- Iowa State
- Gonzaga
- Alabama
- Tennessee
- Illinois
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Villanova
- Kentucky
- Texas Tech
- Auburn
- Kansas
- Indiana
- St.
John’s
24.
USC
25.
Arkansas
The SEC continues to lead the way with seven teams in the rankings, followed by the Big 12 and Big Ten with six each. The Big East has two, and the WCC rounds it out with one.
For Michigan State, the road ahead is anything but easy - but that’s exactly how they like it. With a 7-0 record, a top-10 ranking, and a pair of high-stakes games on deck, the Spartans are stepping into the spotlight. If they can keep this run going, don’t be surprised if they’re knocking on the door of the top five next week.