Men's College Basketball · Matchup Preview

Michigan State Spartans vs Illinois Fighting Illini

Preview · updated September 26, 2026 · 2025–26 season
Michigan State Spartans
Spartans
2-1 L1
— home · — away
4th in Big Ten
Head coach Pat Fitzgerald · 56-55
Illinois Fighting Illini
Fighting Illini
2-1 W1
— home · — away
4th in Big Ten
Head coach Dan Hartleb · 63-51
Storylines
Stakes4th in Big Ten
Players to watch
MSU
—
ILL
—
Team comparison · per game
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Points / game
–
–
Rebounds / game
–
–
Assists / game
–
85.7
Field goal %
80.0
–
3-point %
–
–
Steals / game
–
Series & head-to-head
Series (ESPN era)MSU leads series 4-3 (since 2008-09)
Last meetingNov 16, 2024: ILL 38 — MSU 16 (W: ILL)

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