The Spartans launch their pursuit of a fourth consecutive conference title as the 2026-27 schedule reveals high-stakes rivalries and a regular-season finale against the Buckeyes at Munn.
Summer hasn't even officially started, and most people are doing their best not to let it slip by. But with a massive storm system keeping much of the country indoors this week, there's nothing wrong with letting your mind wander ahead a few months.
What should you be thinking about? College hockey, of course.
Spartan Nation is already buzzing after the release of Michigan State's 2026-27 Big Ten hockey schedule. The Spartans will enter the season chasing their fourth straight Big Ten regular-season title, their third Big Ten Tournament championship in the last four years, and their first Frozen Four appearance since 2008—the same season they captured the national championship.
With a roster that will look a little different but still carry the same Michigan State energy, the Spartans now know when and where they'll be traveling throughout conference play.
So, let's take a quick look at all the dates while you spend the next week watching the rain pour and planning road trips to some of the season's biggest matchups.
Michigan State Spartans 2026-27 Big Ten Hockey Schedule
Nov. 12-15 — at Notre Dame
Nov. 19-22 — at/vs. Michigan (away then home)
Dec. 3-6 — at Ohio State
Dec. 10-13 — vs. Minnesota
Jan. 7-10 — at Wisconsin
Jan. 14-17 — vs. Penn State
Jan. 28-31 — at Minnesota
Feb. 4-7 — vs./at Michigan (home then away)
Feb. 11-14 — vs. Wisconsin
Feb. 18-21 — at Penn State
Feb. 25-28 — vs. Notre Dame
Mar. 4-5 — vs. Ohio State
Exact game dates, start times, and television designations are expected to be announced in the near future, but fans can now begin mapping out when the Spartans will hit the road and when they'll return to Munn Ice Arena.
As expected, Michigan State and Michigan will once again square off in two home-and-home series. The first rivalry showdown comes during the second weekend of Big Ten play. The Spartans will open the series at the newly renovated Yost Ice Arena before returning to East Lansing the following night for a matchup at Munn.
Then, roughly two and a half months later, the rivals will meet again during the first week of February. This time, the series begins in East Lansing before shifting to Ann Arbor for the second game.
Michigan State opens conference play in mid-November against Notre Dame on the road. Interestingly, the Fighting Irish also serve as the Spartans' second-to-last Big Ten opponent of the season, creating a fitting bookend to the conference schedule.
The final Big Ten opponent on the schedule is Ohio State, the same team that stunned Michigan State in last season's Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes will visit Munn Ice Arena during the final weekend of the regular season in what could be one of the most important series of the year. With conference tournament seeding and NCAA Tournament positioning likely on the line, those games could carry significant weight. The two programs will also meet earlier in the season when Michigan State travels to Columbus in early December.
The remaining conference opponents—Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Penn State—are packed into January and February. The Spartans host Minnesota in December before traveling to Minneapolis at the end of January. Wisconsin's two series are separated by three weeks, and the same can be said for Penn State, with the Nittany Lions following Wisconsin on both occasions throughout the schedule.
One scheduling advantage for Michigan State comes late in the season. The Spartans will play at home during three of the final four weeks of the regular season, including the final two weekends. However, that favorable finish comes with a challenging tradeoff. Michigan State will be on the road for seven of its first 10 conference games, creating a difficult opening stretch.
It will be a tough gauntlet to begin the season, but if Adam Nightingale can guide the Spartans through those early road-heavy weeks, the schedule becomes much more favorable down the stretch.
Michigan State's pursuit of a fourth consecutive Big Ten title officially begins in November, and now Spartans fans can finally start counting down the days.
