Michigan State to host Incarnate Word for exhibition game during Izzone Campout
The MSU men's basketball program adds an exhibition game against UIW for Oct. 2. More details here.
The Michigan State men's basketball program has scheduled an exhibition game against the University of Incarnate Word on Oct. 2, the team announced Thursday. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
The preseason matchup against the Cardinals will kick off exhibition play for the Spartans' 2026-2027 season and is scheduled to take place the same day as the Izzone Campout.
The Michigan State women's basketball team will be introduced at halftime of the exhibition contest.
The event is exclusively open only to 2026-2027 season ticket members and Izzone members who are attending the campout.
Season ticket members will have access to their regularly assigned seats, and tickets to the exhibition game with UIW are included as part of a season ticket package.
A ticket to the contest between the Cardinals and the Spartans will be given to each Izzone member who attends the Izzone Campout. Seating for Izzone members will be general admission.
For more information on seating and tickets, please visit msuspartans.com.
The exhibition game with Incarnate Word is one of three preseason contests for Michigan State. The Spartans will also host Connecticut On Oct. 20 and Marquette on Oct. 25. MSU is set to begin the regular season on Nov. 2 against Quinnipiac.
Michigan State also recently releases its full Big Ten schedule, which can be viewed here.
There is an interesting connection between Incarnate Word and Michigan State. Spartans Illustrated's David Harns reported on Sept. 12 that the exhibition game between the two programs was expected to happen, and he also noted that UIW head coach Shane Heirman played for MSU associate head coach Doug Wojcik at Tulsa from 2008 until 2011 while Wojcik was the head coach for the Golden Hurricane. Additionally, Dave Wojcik, who is the associate head coach for the Cardinals, is Doug Wojcik's younger brother.
Incarnate Word, which is a Catholic university located in San Antonio, Texas, plays in the Southland Conference. The Cardinals finished the 2025-2026 season with an overall record of 12-19 and a conference record of 7-15.
Michigan State finished the 2025-2026 season with a 27-8 overall record, and went 15-5 in Big Ten play. The Spartans advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament before losing to UConn. MSU is expected to enter the 2026-2027 season as a top-10-ranked team.
