Michigan State opens the 2024-25 season on Nov. 4 at home against Monmouth and faces Niagara later in the week before the Spartans biggest nonconference test. The Spartans will play in one of two marquee matchups (vs. Kansas) in a doubleheader at the State Farm Champions Classic on Nov. 12.
Michigan State started slowly last season with a loss on opening night to James Madison, marking the program’s first November home loss since 1986. The Spartans also lost games in the nonconference portion of the schedule to Duke and Arizona before entering Big Ten play.
While the Spartans schedule doesn’t guarantee multiple marquee matchups against ranked opponents, Tom Izzo’s squad could face the two-time reigning national champions in the Maui Invitational. If UConn and Michigan State win their opening matchup in Maui, they will play each other with a spot in the championship game on the line
Tyson Walker, Malik Hall and A.J. Hoggard — MSU’s top three scorers from last season — are gone, but the program returns veteran guard Jaden Akins. Xavier Booker, Jeremy Fears and Coen Carr — three members of Michigan State’s star-studded 2023 recruiting class — are expected to see their respective roles increase.
Here are the top five Michigan State nonconference games to watch this season.
1. vs. Kansas
When: Nov. 12, 2024 Where: Champions Classic at State Farm Arena (Atlanta)
Kansas enters the season as the likely preseason No. 1 ranked team and checked in as Gary Parrish’s top-ranked team in the latest Top 25 and 1. Expectations for Bill Self and company will be as high as ever after a disappointing exit in the NCAA Tournament last spring. After falling to Gonzaga in the second round, Kansas loaded up in the transfer portal by landing former Wisconsin/St. John’s forward AJ Storr, Alabama forward Rylan Griffen and South Dakota State guard Zeke Mayo alongside blue-chip incoming freshmen Flory Bidunga (No. 14 overall) and Rakease Passmore (No. 49 overall). The Jayhawks also return star big man Hunter Dickinson.
2. vs. UConn/Memphis
When: Nov. 25-27, 2024 Where: Second round of Maui Invitational at Lahaina Civic Center (Maui, Hawaii)
If Michigan State was guaranteed to face UConn in Maui (which is very much a possibility) this game could be No. 1. The two-time reigning national champions are looking to become the first team since UCLA to three-peat and have a roster led by returning star Alex Karaban, Saint Mary’s transfer Aidan Mahaney and blue-chip incoming freshman Liam McNeeley.
On the Memphis front, there is never a dull moment in Penny Haraday’s tenure. The Tigers (on paper) have a very talented roster of incoming transfers, which includes former Texas guard Tyrese Hunter, Illinois big man Darin Dainja and former Tulsa standout PJ Haggerty.
3. vs. Colorado
When: Nov. 25-27, 2024 Where: First round of Maui Invitational at Lahaina Civic Center (Maui, Hawaii)
Colorado’s roster will look significantly different from last season. The Buffaloes lost their five leading scorers from a team that reached the second round. Colorado saw three players drafted in the 2024 NBA Draft (Cody Williams, Tristan da Silva and K.J. Simpson) and J’Vonne Hadley (Louisville) and Eddie Lampkin Jr. (Syracuse) transferred out of the program.
Colorado’s premier transfer portal addition this offseason was former Washington State forward Andrej Jakimovski. He averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists for the Cougars.
4. Samford
When: Nov. 19, 2024 Where: Home
Samford took Kansas to the brink in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this past spring and should offer MSU a valuable test ahead of Big Ten play. Samford coach Bucky McMillan runs one of the most creative up-tempo offenses in the sport, which has since been coined as “Buckyball.”
Samford lost star big man Achor Achor to the transfer portal this offseason but returns guard Rylan Jones, who averaged 9.4 points and a team-high 5.0 assists.
5. FAU
When: Dec. 21, 2024 Where: Home
FAU’s roster will look drastically different from last season’s NCAA Tournament team. Former coach Dusty May took the vacant job at Michigan after leading the FAU program to new heights – including a Final Four appearance in 2023.
The Owls’ top three scorers from last season (Johnell Davis), Vladislav Goldin (Michigan) and Alijah Martin (Florida) transferred out of the program following May’s departure. FAU replaced May with John Jakus, who spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Baylor under Scott Drew.
Michigan State’s 2024-25 nonconference schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site |
| Mon., Nov. 4 | Monmouth | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Thu., Nov. 7 | Niagara | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Tue., Nov. 12 | vs. Kansas | Atlanta | Champions Classic |
| Sat., Nov. 16 | Bowling Green | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Tue., Nov. 19 | Samford | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Mon., Nov. 25 | vs. Colorado | Maui, Hawaii | Maui Invitational |
| Tue., Nov. 26 | vs. UConn/Memphis | Maui, Hawaii | Maui Invitational |
| Wed., Nov. 27 | vs. UNC/Dayton/Iowa State/Auburn | Maui, Hawaii | Maui Invitational |
| Wed., Dec. 4 | at Minnesota | Minneapolis |
| Sat., Dec. 7 | Nebraska | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Tue., Dec. 17 | at Oakland | Detroit |
| Sat., Dec. 21 | Florida Atlantic | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Mon., Dec. 30 | Western Michigan | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Fri., Jan. 3 | at Ohio State | Columbus, Ohio |
| Thu., Jan. 9 | Washington | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Sun., Jan. 12 | at Northwestern | Evanston, Ill. |
| Wed., Jan. 15 | Penn State | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Sun., Jan. 19 | Illinois | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Sat., Jan. 25 | at Rutgers | TBA |
| Tue., Jan. 28 | Minnesota | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Sat., Feb. 1 | at USC | Los Angeles |
| Tue., Feb. 4 | at UCLA | Los Angeles |
| Sat., Feb. 8 | Oregon | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Tue., Feb. 11 | Indiana | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Sat., Feb. 15 | at Illinois | Champaign. Ill. |
| Tue., Feb. 18 | Purdue | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Fri., Feb. 21 | at Michigan | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Wed., Feb. 26 | at Maryland | College Park, Md. |
| Sun., Mar. 2 | Wisconsin | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Thu., Mar. 6 | at Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa |
| Sun., Mar. 9 | Michigan | East Lansing, Mich. |
