Michigan State Spartans Secure Top-10 Preseason Rankings Ahead of 2026-27 Campaign

The Spartans finished the 2025-26 season 27-8, advancing to the Sweet 16 as a 3-seed before falling to eventual runner-up Connecticut.

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Sports Illustrated placed Michigan State at No. 8, ESPN at No. 9, and CBS Sports at No. 6 in their early-season top-25 lists, positioning the team just behind Houston and ahead of St. John’s.

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Returning point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. leads a nucleus that includes wings Coen Carr and Jordan Scott. Graduations removed front-court starters Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, while the program added 7-foot-2 transfer Anton Bonke and a four-star freshman class (Ethan Taylor, Jasiah Jervis, Carlos Medlock Jr., Julius Avent).

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Fears Jr. led the nation in assists per game as a sophomore. Non-conference opponents feature ranked programs: Duke (No. 6), Arkansas (No. 10), Tennessee (No. 13) and Gonzaga (No. 17).

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The athletic department announced the signing of the four-star freshman class and highlighted the transfer portal acquisition of Anton Bonke as key to bolstering the depleted frontcourt.

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None of the provided sources offered dissenting commentary on the Spartans’ projected outlook.

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Media outlets differ on the exact preseason rank (8, 9, 6). Detailed projections for how the new frontcourt will integrate remain absent.

Men's College Basketball Rankings: Florida, Illinois Highlight Post-Portal Top 25

• "The reasons for optimism in East Lansing start with star point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., arguably the best floor general in college basketball for 2026–27 after leading the country in assists per game as a sophomore. He elevates everyone around him, and Michigan State has a strong nucleus in place with athletic wings Coen Carr and Jordan Scott. The frontcourt is green though with the graduations of Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper. Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke has elite size, while youngsters Cam Ward and Jesse McCulloch could take on bigger roles." — Kevin Sweeney, Sports Illustrated

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• "Sports Illustrated slotted MSU just behind No. 7 Houston and one place ahead of St. John's." — Sports Illustrated ranking note

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• "MSU is coming off a 27-8 season in which it reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 as a 3-seed, falling to 2-seed Connecticut, which finished as the national runner-up." — Season recap

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• "MSU’s non-conference opponents for next season also were ranked – No. 6 Duke, No. 10 Arkansas, No. 13 Tennessee and No. 17 Gonzaga." — Schedule preview

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• "MSU received a commitment from 7-foot-2 center Anton Bonke, a transfer from Charlotte." — Recruiting announcement

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The Spartans open the season with high-profile non-conference games and will aim to capitalize on Detroit’s 2027 Final Four hosting duties, seeking a deeper tournament run than the prior Sweet 16 appearance.

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