Michigan State basketball with host marquee opponents with major challenges away from the Breslin Center before attempting to defend its Big Ten title.

The Spartans on Tuesday announced their full nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season, which starts in less than two months.

Duke and Arkansas both visit East Lansing and the Spartans will face Kentucky and North Carolina on neutral courts. The 11-game nonconference schedule combined with Big Ten play means Michigan State will host 12 power conference opponents for the first time in coach Tom Izzo’s 31 seasons.

Although many of the matchups were already announced, the schedule is now filled out, minus start times and broadcast information that will be released later. The Spartans already know their Big Ten opponents for the season, just not the dates.

Michigan State will open with a pair of exhibition games, hosting Bowling Green on Oct. 23 before playing at UConn on Oct. 28.

The regular season begins with a three-game home stand against Colgate (Nov. 3), Arkansas and Hall of Fame coach John Calipari (Nov. 8) and San Jose State (Nov. 13). The Spartans follow with a matchup against Kentucky in the Nov. 18 Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden.

Michigan State will host Detroit on Nov. 21 before playing in the Fort Myers Tip-Off over Thanksgiving, facing East Carolina (Nov. 25) and North Carolina (Nov. 27) before welcoming Duke to the Breslin Center on Dec. 6.

The final three nonconference games feature a visit from Toledo on Dec. 16 and a trip to face Oakland at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Dec. 20 before hosting Cornell on Dec. 29.

Michigan State opened last season unranked before winning the Big Ten regular season title and reaching the Elite Eight. The Spartans lost seven scholarship players, including one-and-done guard Jase Richardson who was picked by the Magic in the first round of the NBA draft.

Michigan State’s nonconference schedule:

Oct. 23: vs. Bowling Green (exhibition)

Oct. 28: at UConn (exhibition)

Nov. 3: vs. Colgate

Nov. 8: vs. Arkansas

Nov. 13: vs. San Jose State

Nov. 18: vs. Kentucky (Champions Classic)

Nov. 21: vs. Detroit

Nov. 25: vs. East Carolina (Fort Myers Tip-Off)

Nov. 27: vs. North Carolina (Fort Myers Tip-Off)

Dec. 6: vs. Duke

Dec. 16: vs. Toledo

Dec. 20: vs. Oakland (Little Caesars Arena)

Dec. 29: vs. Cornell

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