Whether you follow every game or mostly encounter Spartan sports in workplace conversations, here’s a quick guide to this week’s biggest developments across all 21 varsity teams.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026, before the men’s basketball opener. Rankings and records reflect the latest official information available at that cutoff. Golf, cross country, rowing and fall tennis use event placements rather than win-loss records.
Top news
Men’s hockey climbed to No. 3 nationally after defeating No. 8 North Dakota and now hosts No. 13 Boston University.
No. 6 women’s soccer begins Big Ten tournament play Thursday as the No. 4 seed.
Men’s cross country placed third at the Big Ten championships, led by first-team All-Big Ten runner Thomas Westphal.
Rivalry week arrives Saturday when MSU football visits Michigan for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
No. 6 men’s basketball and women’s basketball begin their regular seasons this week.
No. 8 men’s soccer visits No. 4 Indiana with Big Ten tournament seeding at stake.
In season
Men’s ice hockey — No. 3 MSU is 5-1 after defeating then-No. 8 North Dakota 5-3. Anthony Romani scored twice, and Cayden Lindstrom delivered the winning goal 19 seconds after North Dakota tied the game. The Spartans host No. 13 Boston University at 7 p.m. Friday and 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Munn Ice Arena. North Dakota recap
Women’s soccer — No. 6 MSU finished fourth in the Big Ten at 13-3-2 overall and 9-3 in conference play. Shelby Vaughn’s late goal secured a 1-0 win at Northwestern and the team’s 11th shutout. The No. 4-seeded Spartans face No. 21 Washington in a Big Ten quarterfinal at 5 p.m. Thursday in St. Louis. Tournament preview
Men’s soccer — No. 8 MSU is 10-3-3 overall and fourth in the Big Ten at 5-2-2. The Spartans lost 4-1 to Rutgers Friday and close the regular season at No. 4 Indiana at 8 p.m. Wednesday on the Big Ten Network. The result will determine Big Ten tournament seeding. Rutgers recap
Volleyball — MSU is 17-5 overall and tied for eighth in the Big Ten at 7-5. The Spartans, No. 25 in the latest available American Volleyball Coaches Association poll at the cutoff, won the opening set against undefeated No. 1 Nebraska before falling 3-1 alongside 8,108 fans — the fourth-largest crowd in program history. MSU visits Wisconsin Thursday and hosts Ohio State at 6 p.m. Saturday. Nebraska recap
Football — MSU is 2-6 overall and 0-5 in the Big Ten following six consecutive losses. After an open weekend, the Spartans will play Michigan at the Big House at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (streaming on Peacock). It will be the fifth consecutive night game in the rivalry. Game-time announcement
Cross country — The men placed third and the women ninth at the Big Ten championships. Thomas Westphal finished fifth to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors, while Riley Hough and Klaire Eighner earned second-team recognition. MSU hosts the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Nov. 13 at Forest Akers East. Big Ten championship recap
Men’s basketball — No. 6 MSU entered opening night with a 0-0 record. Jeremy Fears Jr. is the Big Ten preseason player of the year and a preseason AP first-team All-American. The Spartans’ opening week features home games against Quinnipiac Monday and Toledo at 8 p.m. Thursday. Season-opening preview
Women’s basketball — MSU begins the regular season after defeating Michigan Tech 100-53 in its exhibition. Guard Monique Bobongie scored 21 points and Forward Carter McCray added 20. The Spartans host Valparaiso at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday before visiting Toledo at 2 p.m. Saturday. Exhibition recap
Wrestling — The season begins Saturday with the all-day Michigan State Open at Jenison Field House. The open tournament does not count as a team dual. Returning NCAA qualifier Kael Wisler went 24-12 last season at 197 pounds.
Tournament sports
Men’s tennis — Fall individual tournaments do not carry a team record. Taym Alazmeh reached the singles round of 16 at the Big Ten Individual Championships, while Alazmeh and Danial Rakhmatullayev advanced to the doubles quarterfinals. Intercollegiate Tennis Association Sectionals begin Thursday in Waco, Texas.
Women’s tennis — Amara Brahmbhatt made MSU’s deepest run at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional, reaching the singles round of 16. Spartans compete at the ITA Sectional Championships beginning Thursday and host the Michigan State Classic Friday through Sunday.
Men’s golf — MSU closed its fall schedule by placing 10th among 15 teams at the Quail Valley Intercollegiate. Its final-round 9-under-par 279 was its best team round of the season. Competition resumes Jan. 30 at the Gantner Cup. Quail Valley recap
Women’s golf — MSU finished 11th among 18 teams at the Landfall Tradition, which included 14 nationally ranked programs. Lucia Valderrama led the Spartans by tying for 30th. The spring schedule begins Feb. 1 at the Paradise Invitational. Landfall recap
Rowing — MSU’s fall schedule most recently included a Nov. 1 scrimmage at Ohio State; no placements or recap were posted. The Spartans compete next at the USRowing Small Boat Championships Nov. 14-15 in Princeton, New Jersey.
Starting soon
Gymnastics — The Green and White exhibition is Dec. 13, followed by the Jan. 9 regular-season opener against NC State. MSU finished last season ranked No. 12 and reached its fifth consecutive NCAA regional final; Nikki Smith earned three All-America honors. 2027 schedule announcement
Seasons complete or offseason
Field hockey — MSU finished 6-11 overall and 0-8 in the Big Ten. The Spartans ended the season with a 3-0 shutout of Bellarmine as Lola Munoz de Verger stopped all five shots she faced. Season-finale recap
Baseball — MSU finished 24-32 overall and 11-19 in the Big Ten. As the No. 12 tournament seed, the Spartans defeated Purdue and Iowa before falling to USC in the quarterfinals. The 2027 schedule has not been posted. Season-ending recap
Softball — MSU finished 17-34 overall and 3-20 in the Big Ten. Its fall exhibitions concluded Oct. 11, and the 2027 regular-season schedule has not been announced.
Track and field — MSU earned four All-America honors at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Kate Stewart-Barnett placed fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, MSU’s best women’s outdoor NCAA finish since 2015. The 2026-27 indoor schedule has not been posted. NCAA championship recap
Tuesday, Nov. 3: Women’s basketball vs. Valparaiso, 6:30 p.m., Breslin Center
Wednesday, Nov. 4: Men’s soccer at Indiana, 8 p.m., BTN
Thursday, Nov. 5: Women’s soccer vs. Washington, 5 p.m.; volleyball at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.; men’s basketball vs. Toledo, 8 p.m.; tennis sectionals begin
Friday, Nov. 6: Michigan State Classic begins; hockey vs. Boston University, 7 p.m., Munn Ice Arena
Saturday, Nov. 7: Michigan State Open, all day; women’s basketball at Toledo, 2 p.m.; hockey vs. Boston University, 4:30 p.m.; volleyball vs. Ohio State, 6 p.m.; football at Michigan, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 8: Potential Big Ten tournament games for both soccer teams; tennis competition continues