Michigan State’s Tom Izzo says Spartans, Gonzaga to meet in California for nonconference game

April 1, 2026 Updated Wed., April 1, 2026 at 10:09 p.m.

By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com (509) 459-5584

Gonzaga will open its 2026-27 basketball season against a Big Ten power and go toe-to-toe with another at some point during the nonconference schedule.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo revealed Tuesday on the Staudt on Sports Show the Spartans will play Gonzaga “in California” next season.

Izzo didn’t provide any other details related to where the game will take place or if the teams have agreed to a date.

“(UConn) is coming back to play an exhibition game and I think we’ve got Duke in Chicago, we’ve got Gonzaga in California,” Izzo told the East Lansing-based radio show. “The one thing I’ve still stayed stupid on is my scheduling. I’m always trying to bring good teams here.”

The Zags are already scheduled to open the 2026-27 season against Big Ten Tournament champion Purdue on Nov. 2 at T-Mobile Arena as part of the 2026 Hall of Fame Series that will also feature a game between Arizona and UCLA.

Gonzaga and Michigan State have met six times since 1998, most recently playing in 2022 on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in San Diego as part of the Armed Forces Classic. Drew Timme led the Zags in a low-scoring game, totaling 22 points as GU held off MSU for a 64-63 victory.

Michigan State still leads Gonzaga 4-2 in the all-time series between the schools.

The Zags are tentatively scheduled to play at least seven games against high-major opponents in 2026-27. Outside of the aforementioned games against Big Ten opponents, Gonzaga will travel to Kentucky’s Rupp Arena for the fifth game of a six-year series between the programs and face Creighton in Omaha for the second game of a home-and-home series.

Gonzaga is also scheduled to make its second appearance at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, where Mark Few’s team went 2-1 over three games last season, beating Alabama and Maryland before losing to Michigan in the championship.

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