Tennessee basketball has added another prominent game to its 2026-27 non conference schedule. The Vols will host Michigan State in a non conference matchup in Knoxville next season, Rick Barnes announced at the Big Orange Caravan in Nashville and a source confirmed to RTI on Wednesday night.
The exact date of the game is not yet set but it is one of the biggest matchups on Tennessee’s non conference schedule to date.
Tennessee has yet to announce its full non conference schedule for next season. However, the Vols will play a road game against Purdue, three games in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, one game in the ACC-SEC Challenge and a matchup against NC State in Nashville.
The Vols’ are due to play at home in the ACC-SEC Challenge after going on the road to face Syracuse last season.
In past seasons, Tennessee has typically played either six or seven power five opponents in non conference play.
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It’s the first matchup between Tennessee and Michigan State since the 2010 Elite Eight in St. Louis when Tom Izzo’s Spartans defeated Bruce Pearl’s Vols 70-69 with a spot in the Final Four on the line. Michigan State holds a 5-2 advantage in the series all time.
Tennessee traveled to East Lansing and knocked off Michigan State in a charity exhibition game ahead of the 2023-24 season.
The Vols have gone through a roster overhaul this offseason. As their roster currently stands, Tennessee has returning players: DeWayne Brown and Troy Henderson, incoming transfers: Terrence Hill Jr, Dai Dai Ames, Tyler Lundblade, Jalen Haralson, Braedan Lue and Miles Rubin, high school signees: Chris Washington Jr, Ralph Scott, Manny Green and Marquis Clark.
Tennessee still has three scholarships remaining for next season as they remain in hot pursuit of star Wake Forest guard Juke Harris and also look to add another big man to its roster.
