Tennessee basketball scheduled to host Michigan State in 2026-27

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 29: Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo and Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes chat together before a college basketball exhibition game between the Michigan State Spartans and Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2023 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The college basketball season has only been over for a month now, but Tennessee fans are already stoked for the 2026-27 season. Rick Barnes has been busy loading up on talent in the transfer portal , and this could end up being the coach’s most talented roster ever.

The 2026-27 season is also setting up to have a very interesting slate of games for the Vols. On Wednesday night, Barnes revealed that the Vols will take on the Michigan State Spartans at home in a non-conference clash. Barnes announced the matchup during the Big Orange Caravan in Nashville.

Tennessee will host Michigan State in the 2026-27 season, Vols coach Rick Barnes said in Nashville. The Vols and Spartans have not played since the 2010 Elite Eight outside of secret scrimmages and a charity exhibition. https://t.

co/IVXLQBtSyy — Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) April 30, 2026 We don’t know yet when the game will take place, as the full schedule hasn’t been revealed, but we do know about a few other non-conference matchups as well. We already know the Vols will play a road game at Purdue, will play three games in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, will play one game in the ACC-SEC Challenge, and will have a matchup against NC State, and former assistant coach Justin Gainey, in Nashville. This Michigan State clash could be the biggest non-conference game of the season, though.