Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans have reached the NCAA Tournament every season since 1997–98. That’s 27 straight appearances, and the 2025–26 team plans to make it 28 in a row.
The Spartans enter this season after winning 30 games and reaching the Elite Eight for the first time since 2018–19. Over the last five tournaments, Michigan State has tallied seven March Madness wins, continuing Izzo’s reputation for having his teams peak when it matters most.
Since taking over in 1995–96, Izzo has guided Michigan State to one NCAA championship, eight Final Fours, 11 Elite Eight appearances, and 16 Sweet 16 runs.
A Legacy Built on Big Ten Dominance
In one of the toughest conferences in college basketball, Michigan State’s consistency is legendary. The Spartans have won the Big Ten Tournament six times under Izzo, though they haven’t claimed that crown since 2019. However, they remain the defending Big Ten regular season champions and have now earned 11 league titles in the Izzo era.
That ties Izzo with Ward Lambert and Bob Knight for the most Big Ten regular-season championships in history. He also holds the record for most conference wins by any Big Ten coach, a number that continues to climb as the 70-year-old keeps building on his Hall of Fame resume.
Preparing for Another Grueling Journey
Michigan State opens the season with two exhibition games before tipping off the 2025–26 campaign. The first comes at the Breslin Center against Bowling Green, followed by a road test at UConn against Dan Hurley’s defending powerhouse.
The regular season begins Monday, November 3, with a home matchup against Colgate. From there, the non-conference schedule quickly toughens. The Spartans face Arkansas and Kentucky early before squaring off with North Carolina and Duke in marquee midseason clashes.
A season ago, the Spartans were one of the best rebounding teams in the country, averaging nearly 40 per game. They were also one of the most unselfish, with 16.6 assists per game. The Spartans project to start Jeremy Fears Jr., Trey Fort, Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper this season.
March Is Still Izzo Season
A 28th straight NCAA appearance won’t come easily, but Izzo’s program has a blueprint for navigating the grind. Michigan State has made a habit of playing its best basketball when the calendar turns to March.
The Spartans once again have the talent, experience, and leadership to extend one of the sport’s most impressive streaks. After all, they don’t call it “Izzo Season” for nothing.