15. Michigan State (12-2)
Recently, Michigan State hasn’t exactly been the program that we’re used to seeing. They haven’t been close to a Big Ten title in a few years, though this year’s talent is looking to change that and they’ve shown their ability already. You won’t find a ton of flashy wins on Michigan State’s schedule, though they’re riding a wave of positive momentum into 2025 that just kept rolling on this week.
Their final nonconference tune-up came before New Year’s, as the Spartans beat Western Michigan 80-62 on Monday night. While this wasn’t the best performance, Michigan State still got another solid win while Jaden Akins scored 18 points. This team did show up with a solid effort a few days later as the Spartans won 69-62 at Ohio State on Friday. Another league win came thanks to 15 points from Szymon Zapala and a 14-point effort from Akins.
There’s talent on this roster and the talent isn’t underachieving like last season. The Spartans are 3-0 in Big Ten play, a mark that includes a pair of road wins and some really solid performances during a 7-game winning streak. Tom Izzo has his team playing very solid ball, though more tough tests loom as Big Ten play ramps up. This team is at Northwestern next weekend but actually have a winnable track of games ahead.