The Spartans aren’t just making national waves — they’ve asserted themselves as a powerhouse in the Big Ten.
Men’s hockey clinched its second consecutive conference tournament title, while the gymnastics squad finished runner-up with a season-high score of 198.150.
Both basketball teams thrived in a competitive Big Ten, with the men’s squad reaching the conference semifinals and the women’s team earning an NCAA Tournament seeding for the first time in six years.
Michigan State is the only school in the nation to have men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey and women’s gymnastics all qualify for their NCAA Championships.
These student-athletes are excelling not only on the court but also in the classroom. The academic success of MSU’s athletes is at an all-time high, according to Assistant AD for Business Development and NIL Strategy Darien Harris.
"I think that gets kind of lost in the shuffle which it shouldn’t," Harris said "We’re still an institution of higher learning, were still about education, and I believe we’ve posted the highest GPA cumulatively across the board."
Hockey: Back-to-back champions in the Big Ten
The hockey team took on Ohio State for the Big Ten Championship on Saturday and won 4-3 in a double-overtime thriller.
Sophomore goaltender Trey Augustine had 38 saves and junior Isaac Howard had a standout game. Howard is the national leader in points per game with an average of 1.42 and was named Most Outstanding Player of The Big Ten Tournament.
MSU is the first school in the Big Ten to secure consecutive regular-season tournament titles.
"I know they are looking to make a push in NCAA’s and hopefully reach the frozen floor and certainly have the talent to do it," Harris said.
Next, they’ll be taking on Cornell on Thursday, March 27 at 5:30 p.m. in Toledo to begin NCAA tournament play.
Men’s basketball: Spartans surge into Sweet 16
In the first round of the NCAA March Madness tournament, the Spartans defeated Bryant 87-62 on Friday evening.
On Sunday, they transitioned into the second round where they faced New Mexico and won 71-63.
The team trailed in the first half, causing concern among Spartan fans, but late in the second half, MSU went on a 12-3 run in just 2:34 to secure the win. Senior guard Jaden Akins led the team with 16 points, while junior guard Tre Holloman added 14.
The team will face Ole Miss in the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 28 at 7:09 p.m.
Gymnastics: Record-breaking performance at Big Ten Championships
The gymnastics team traveled to Ann Arbor this past Saturday for the Big Ten Championships and took second place with a season-high score of 198.150, behind UCLA.
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Senior Gabrielle Stephen earned a perfect 10 on the beam, the first ever in MSU history, and claimed her first Big Ten title.
MSU scored season highs on both beam and floor and led the meet until UCLA took the floor with a 49.800, overtaking them for the lead.
"We’re going toe-to-toe with the most elite programs in the various sports across the country and we’re able to compete in all of them," Harris said.
UCLA won the meet with a 198.450 and Minnesota finished third with a 197.425.
The team earned their bid to the NCAA Gymnastics Regionals and will compete in the NCAA University Park Regional on Thursday, April 3 in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Women’s basketball: NCAA run comes to an end
The women’s basketball team entered its tournament run with a 64-50 win over Harvard in the first round and advanced to the second round, where it lost to NC State 83-49.
This is the first time since 2019 that the women’s team has reached the NCAA Tournament.
The team fought hard against Harvard, facing offensive struggles, but ultimately relied on their defense to secure the win.
The game against NC State was a different story. The Wolfpack took the lead early and eventually pulled away, taking a 25-9 lead in the first quarter. The Spartans fought hard in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough, and they fell.
The team finished with a record of 11-7 in Big Ten play and 22-10 overall.
Men’s tennis: Road warriors take down Indiana and Purdue
The men’s tennis team hit the road this past weekend, securing victories over Indiana and Purdue.
On Saturday, the team swept Indiana 4-0, earning the doubles point and carrying momentum into singles play. The Spartans won the first three singles matches, with the remaining contests left unfinished, favoring MSU.
On Sunday, the Spartans traveled to West Lafayette and secured another road victory, defeating Purdue 5-2.
Though the team missed out on the doubles point, they made up for it in singles. Freshman Vuk Radjenovic clinched the win by taking two of three singles matches.
Next, the team returns to East Lansing for a matchup against Penn State on Saturday, March 29, at 11 a.m.
Baseball: Series win over Penn State
The baseball team traveled to State College, Pennsylvania, for a three-game series against Penn State.
In the opener, the Spartans shut out the Nittany Lions, 4-0, giving them their first home shutout loss since 2022. On Saturday Penn State managed to make a comeback and won the second game of the series 11-5.
However, the Spartans responded confidently and sought retribution, winning 10-5 in the third and final game that gave them the series win.
Next, the Spartans travel to South Bend, Indiana, on Wednesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. to face Notre Dame.
Track and Field: Strong start to outdoor season
The Spartans kicked off their outdoor track and field season at the USF Alumni Classic, where the field athletes put on a strong performance.
On Friday, freshman Dillon Morlock placed second in men’s shot put with a throw of 18.73m. Morlock was recently named a Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Athlete to Watch.
Sophomore Jessica Steib set a personal best, finishing first in women’s shot put with a 16.48m throw.
Next, the Spartans will head to Raleigh, N.C., for the Raleigh Relays on Thursday, March 27.
Women’s tennis: tough West Coast battles
The women’s tennis team traveled to the West Coast this past weekend for matchups against USC and UCLA, where they were unable to score a point in either match.
On Saturday, the Spartans faced the Trojans and lost 4-0. On Sunday, they faced UCLA and suffered a similar fate, losing 4-0.
The Spartans fought hard, winning a few singles matches, but couldn’t walk away with any points.
Next, the team returns home for a matchup against Northwestern on Friday, March 28.
Softball: Buckeyes dominate Spartans in three-game series
The softball team struggled against the Ohio State Buckeyes in their three-game series this past weekend, losing all three games.
On Friday, the Spartans were stunned in the first game, losing 17-1. They fought back in the second game, tying it 3-3, but Ohio State hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning to secure a 7-3 win.
The Spartans couldn’t keep up with the dominant Buckeyes, losing the third and final game of the series 24-2.
MSU will face Central Michigan in a home matchup at Secchia Stadium on Wednesday, March 26, at 5 p.m.
"I’m just excited about the way that we’re able to tell the story of Michigan State Athletics right now so that more people can see just how special of a place this is," Harris said.
As Michigan State’s winter sports teams continue their postseason runs, the coming weeks promise even more action.
Hockey aims to carry its championship momentum into the NCAA Tournament, while both basketball teams prepare for their next challenges on the national stage.
Meanwhile, spring sports are gearing up for their own defining moments. With baseball, track and field and tennis teams making strong starts, the Spartans are poised for another season of competition and growth.
