The 21st-ranked Michigan State Spartans will hit the road for their only away exhibition game tonight as they take on the fourth-ranked Connecticut Huskies.

This marks the final tune-up before the Spartans officially open their regular season next week against Colgate on November 3.

While this matchup won’t count toward the official series record — which, according to Sports Reference, sits tied at 4-4 through eight games — it still offers plenty of intrigue. Exhibition games might lack the stakes of a regular-season clash, but any time Tom Izzo throws a fresh Spartan squad into the fire, it’s an early test of how they’ll sink or swim.

So, grab that Halloween candy a few days early and enjoy two powerhouse programs going head-to-head.

Game Details:

• Date: Tuesday, Oct. 28
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: None in Michigan (WFSB locally in Hartford, Conn.)
• Streaming: UConn+
• Radio: WJR-AM 760 in Detroit (Spartan Media Network, MSUSpartans.com)

Michigan State is coming off a 75–66 exhibition win over Bowling Green last week, led by an electric performance from junior Cohen Carr, who posted 17 points and five blocks — a stat that even surprised him.

“I had five blocks?” Carr said. “I should have made more free throws, and that’s the one thing I’m mad about. I feel like I played decently, but I didn’t know I had five blocks. I feel like I shut off my playmaking tool a little bit, and I got some of my teammates involved.”

Carr’s comments capture what these exhibitions are all about: finding rhythm, building chemistry, and working out the early-season kinks. Izzo is known for testing his teams early, often loading the schedule with tough opponents regardless of the record that comes with it — a formula that’s helped Michigan State reach the NCAA Tournament for 27 straight years.

For that streak to continue, the Spartans will need to earn their stripes this season. Tonight’s matchup may not affect the standings, but the small details — communication, energy, defensive rotations, and team chemistry — will matter most.

It’s all about growth before the games start to count. Let’s see how this year’s Spartans handle the challenge.