Gary Parrish Ranks Michigan State No. 17 in Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2025–26 Season

One of college basketball’s most respected voices, Gary Parrish of CBS Sports, has high expectations for Michigan State heading into the 2025–26 season. In his latest edition of the Way-Too-Early Top 25 and 1 rankings, Parrish places the Spartans at No. 17 nationally—firmly within the conversation as a top-tier program poised to build on last year’s success.

Parrish’s ranking is based largely on the return of a strong core group from a team that went 30-7 last season and made an impressive run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State is set to bring back four of its top eight scorers: high-flying forward Coen Carr, skilled big man Jaxon Kohler, promising point guard Jeremy Fears, and versatile center Carson Cooper. That quartet provides both experience and upside—an ideal foundation for head coach Tom Izzo to shape another contender in East Lansing.

In addition to the returning talent, Parrish highlights Michigan State’s incoming recruiting class, which features four-star prospects Cam Ward and Jordan Scott. Both are expected to make immediate contributions and add depth to a roster already loaded with potential. Their arrival gives the Spartans a mix of veteran presence and young energy that could translate into a deep postseason run once again.

Parrish’s Big Ten outlook has Michigan State trailing a few conference foes, most notably Purdue (ranked No. 3), UCLA (No. 6), and rival Michigan (No. 11). Still, the Spartans are positioned ahead of other ranked Big Ten programs, including Oregon (No. 18), Ohio State (No. 22), and Wisconsin (No. 24). That places Michigan State squarely in the top tier of the conference—a group with legitimate hopes of competing for a Big Ten title and a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Interestingly, Michigan State's place in preseason projections has varied widely. In other way-too-early rankings released by national outlets, the Spartans have been listed anywhere from inside the top five to just outside the Top 25. The general consensus, however, seems to align with Parrish’s evaluation: Michigan State is a mid-to-late teens team for now, but one with plenty of room to climb.

With another strong offseason under their belt, and with Tom Izzo continuing to bring in top-tier talent while developing key returners, Michigan State will enter next season with a blend of unfinished business and high expectations. For a program with Izzo at the helm and a history of exceeding preseason projections, that’s right where they want to be.