Two of the best teams in the country begin their two-game set on Thursday, as the Michigan State Spartans pay a visit to the Wisconsin Badgers. This could be a turning point weekend in Madison, as these two teams are filled with talent, and have the potential of being there near the end of the Big Ten Tournament.

Fitzgerald previously spent 17 seasons at Northwestern, where he transformed the program into a competitive Big Ten team that contended for championships. He is now taking over a team that has lost 39 players to the transfer portal, but has managed to secure commitments from 25 new players so far.

Bloomfield Hills native Nick Bogas is committed to Michigan State, the same school his dad Chris Bogas went to before a pro career.

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, 6 p.m. (CT)East Lansing, Michigan (Breslin Center)TV: BTN (Ed Cohen, Christy Winters-Scott)Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (5:30 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst) Lincoln (107.

Three of the five remaining unbeaten teams suffered their first losses in the past week and tumbled down the top 25.

Michigan State also recently lost to the Cornhuskers. The Spartans fell at Nebraska Jan. 2, but they have rebounded with back-to-back wins since. The most recent of those was Thursday, when -13.5 MSU defeated Northwestern 76-66 (Under 143.5).

The Michigan State football team continues to turn the roster over through the transfer portal, with 25 transfers now committed.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo praised how the Spartans are playing into the program's defend, rebound and run motto.

Jaxon Kohler leads MSU, averaging 14.4 points and 10.0 rebounds in league games. Jeremy Fears Jr. adds 13.2 points and 6.8 assists, and Coen Carr 9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and a highlight-reel dunk (maybe two). The pull down a league-most 40.4 rebounds in league games.

The Irish defense also forced four turnovers, with interceptions by Ned Bolcar and Todd Lyght and fumble recoveries by Bolcar and Tom Gorman. Michigan State’s only score—a 57-yard pass to Andre Rison and a two-point conversion—came with just 1:06 left in the game against Notre Dame’s second team.