It is one of those Sundays where the green and white faithful are glued to the screen, constantly refreshing scores. You know the drill. If you’re asking did Michigan State win today, the answer depends entirely on which court you’re looking at. While Tom Izzo's men’s squad is riding high after a massive business trip to Seattle, the women’s team and the men's tennis group had a much rougher go of it this afternoon.
Honestly, the schedule was packed.
Between a top-15 women's basketball showdown in Iowa City and a ranked tennis battle in Lexington, the Spartans had their hands full. It wasn't exactly a clean sweep for East Lansing.
The Sunday Verdict: A Tough Road for the Women and Tennis
The biggest headline for January 18, 2026, centers on the No. 15 Michigan State women’s basketball team. They headed into Carver-Hawkeye Arena to face No. 11 Iowa. It was supposed to be a heavyweight bout. Unfortunately, the Spartans couldn't keep the momentum from their nine-game winning streak alive.
Iowa’s defense showed up. Michigan State, which had been averaging over 87 points per game, struggled to find that same rhythm against a disciplined Hawkeye rotation. It’s a tough pill to swallow after such a hot start to the season, but playing in Iowa City is never a walk in the park.
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Meanwhile, over on the tennis courts, the No. 20 Michigan State men’s team faced off against Kentucky. This was the spring season opener, and the Wildcats weren't interested in being polite hosts. Kentucky took the match 5-2. Despite a strong showing in doubles where the Spartans actually grabbed the early lead, the wheels fell off in singles. Kentucky’s depth at the bottom of the lineup proved to be the difference-maker.
- Men’s Tennis: Lost 5-2 vs. Kentucky
- Women’s Basketball: Faced a setback against Iowa in a top-15 clash
- Men’s Gymnastics: No major meet today (Michigan won the Ohio State Open, but MSU wasn't the victor there)
What Most People Get Wrong About the Men's Basketball Schedule
If you were looking for an Izzo update today, you actually missed the party by about 24 hours. The No. 12 Michigan State men's basketball team played their big game on Saturday, January 17. They didn't play today.
They absolutely crushed it, though.
The Spartans went into Seattle and handled the Washington Huskies with an 80-63 win. Jeremy Fears Jr. was the engine for that victory, dropping 19 points and basically controlling the floor from the jump. It was a massive statement win for a team that’s now 16-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten.
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People keep waiting for this team to stumble, especially after that weird two-point loss to Nebraska earlier in the month, but they look legit. They’re currently sitting in a tie for third in the conference, right behind Purdue and Nebraska.
Why the Women's Loss Still Matters
Don't let today’s result against Iowa sour you on the women’s program. Coach Robyn Fralick has this team playing some of the most exciting basketball in the country. They’ve already knocked off ranked teams like Ole Miss and Nebraska this season.
A loss in January, especially on the road against a higher-ranked opponent, is usually just "character building" in the eyes of the committee. The Spartans are still a lock for a high seed in the tournament if they keep playing with the pace they’ve shown. Their offense is still ranked in the top 10 nationally for a reason.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Spartans?
The schedule doesn't get any easier from here. The men's team is headed back to the Breslin Center for a massive showdown against Oregon on January 20. That’s going to be a "white out" game, and the Izzone will be out in full force.
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For the women, they’ve got to regroup quickly. Losing a winning streak sucks, but they’ve got plenty of home games coming up to make up ground in the Big Ten standings.
If you're keeping track of the overall record for the university this week:
- Men's Basketball: 1-0 on the road trip (Win vs Washington).
- Hockey: Huge sweep of Wisconsin in Madison.
- Wrestling: Lost a close one to Illinois on Friday.
Basically, the Spartans are competitive across the board, but today just wasn't the day for a celebratory victory parade in the streets of East Lansing.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to keep up with the real-time changes, make sure you're checking the official MSU composite calendar rather than just Google's snippet, which sometimes mixes up the men's and women's schedules.
- Watch the Men's game vs Oregon on Tuesday; it will likely determine if they jump into the top 10 of the AP Poll.
- Keep an eye on Jaxon Kohler; he’s been averaging nearly a double-double and is quietly becoming the most reliable big man Izzo has had in three seasons.
- Check the secondary markets for the Michigan game on January 30 now, because prices are already starting to spike.