Tom Izzo is showing no signs of slowing down.
At an age when plenty of college coaches start easing into the background, the Michigan State Hall of Famer is still building elite recruiting classes like he’s got decades left. He already hauled in one of the best groups in 2026 with Jasiah Jervis, Julius Avent, Ethan Taylor, and Carlos Medlock Jr., and now he’s on the verge of stacking another heavyweight class.
Rivals’ latest 2027 Top 25 basketball recruiting class rankings have Michigan State at No. 5, trailing only UConn, LSU, Purdue, and Providence. It’s a loaded top five, and the Spartans have carved out a spot right in the middle of it.
Michigan State is also sitting at No. 2 in the Big Ten, with Purdue ahead of it after landing the No. 3 center and No. 12 point guard. The Spartans’ own class features the No. 7 point guard and No. 8 center, with Antonio Pemberton serving as the headline name.
Jaydn Jenkins may not be getting the same buzz, but Izzo clearly valued him enough to make him a priority, even bringing him in during Grind Week alongside Pemberton. The two liked the idea of teaming up, and that pairing now helps give Michigan State the No. 5 class nationally.
For Izzo, it’s another major recruiting win. This is his third top-10 class since 2023, and the pattern says plenty about where the program stands right now. He’s not just landing good players - he’s stacking elite groups year after year.
And there may still be more coming. If Michigan State can add Mateen Cleaves Jr. in 2028, Izzo could be looking at one of the best runs of point guard talent he’s had in 30 years. That would be a full-circle moment worth watching.
Even with Michigan State off to a sluggish start this season and carrying a couple of exhibition losses, Izzo’s long view is obvious. He’s still pushing hard, still recruiting at a high level, and still has big goals for this team and the next few after it as retirement questions keep hanging around every offseason.
The old labels haven’t stuck. The “dinosaur” coach idea never pushed him out, and Izzo has instead remained one of the best recruiters in the sport. He’s the third-oldest coach behind Rick Pitino and Rick Barnes, but he’s acting like someone with plenty of runway left.
He won a title when people didn’t think he could. Now he’s trying to finish his career with another shot at the top, and the way he’s recruiting makes it clear he plans to keep swinging for one before he calls it a career.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Handed Spartans Fans Fresh Rivalry Ammo
A close win over Rutgers was supposed to be about settling things on the field, but Kyle Whittingham managed to stir the pot afterward with a few words that will travel well beyond one Saturday night. The Michigan coach said he is very interested in being part of the Michigan State rivalry, calling it not the biggest one, but a big one, a framing that is sure to catch the attention of Spartans fans who already know how quickly this matchup can harden into talking points.
Whittinghams comments have already drawn comparisons to former Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith and his own controversial remarks about the rivalry, adding another layer to a season that has not gone smoothly for Michigan fans. With dissatisfaction growing around Whittinghams performance and the teams rocky start, the rivalry chatter is landing at a time when every word feels magnified, and it gives Spartans supporters fresh material to keep in their back pocket the next time these programs cross paths. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Gets Another Rivalry Night Test Fans Dread
Michigan States next shot at Michigan comes with the kind of late kickoff that has become its own subplot in this rivalry. The Wolverines and Spartans are set for a 7:30 p.m. ET night game next weekend in Ann Arbor, and this one will stream on Peacock instead of airing on NBC, adding another layer to a matchup that already tends to draw plenty of attention from both fan bases.
The setting only sharpens the stakes for a series that has long tilted toward Michigan, which owns the historical edge and has won the last four meetings, all under the lights. With both programs now working under new coaches, the rivalry is entering another reset point, and for Spartans fans, the timing and the venue make this one feel like a familiar test with a fresh wrinkle. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Gets A Chance To Rewrite A Painful Big Ten Ending
Michigan State will get an immediate shot at turning the page on a frustrating Big Ten finish after the conference released the bracket and schedule for the 2026 Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans landed the No. 4 seed in the new eight-team field and open in the quarterfinals against No. 5 seed Washington, with the tournament beginning Wednesday at Energizer Park in St. Louis.
The format adds a fresh wrinkle to the race, since the title game is set for Nov. 13 at the home site of the highest remaining seed. For Michigan State, that means the path back to the leagues biggest stage starts with a familiar kind of pressure, one that offers a chance to rewrite how this Big Ten ending looks if the Spartans can handle their opening test. [Read more 🡒]