Michigan State has earned the overall No. 4 ranking in the two national preseason polls, USCHO.com and USA Hockey/The Rink Live.
The No. 4 ranking matches MSU's highest ranking during the 2023-24 season, and is its highest position since November 12, 2007, when the Spartans earned a No. 3 ranking. MSU finished the 2023-24 season as the No. 5 team in both national polls, and returns 17 letterwinners from last year's 25-10-3 team which advanced to the NCAA regional final.
The Spartans, the 2024 regular-season and tournament champions, were selected as the Big Ten preseason favorite and had three pre-season First Team All-Big Ten selections in Trey Augustine (goaltender, South Lyon, MI), and forwards Karsen Dorwart (Sherwood, OR) and Isaac Howard (Hudson, WI). 2024 All-Big Ten Honorable mention selection Joey Larson (Brighton, MI.) also returns. MSU lost three forwards and two defensemen who played 30 or more games last season, and nine newcomers (two transfers and eight freshmen) will look to step in to bolster the Spartan veterans.
Under the tutelage of second-year head coach and Big Ten Coach of the Year Adam Nightingale, MSU earned its first-ever Big Ten regular season championship in 2024 and its first regular-season conference title since 2001. MSU's Big Ten Tournament championship was secured with a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory over Michigan at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament (their first tournament bid since 2012) and advanced to the NCAA Regional Final for the first time since 2008.
The Big Ten put four other teams in the preseason national top 20 from USCHO and USA Hockey/The Rink Live: Minnesota (6/5), Michigan (7/8) Wisconsin (10), and Notre Dame (19).
This story originally appeared on MSUspartans.com.