MSU Hockey Drops to No. 2 in Latest National Rankings

Spartans lose top spot after disappointing weekend against Ohio State

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Michigan State hockey's time as the top ranked team in the country has come to an end -- at least for a week. After a disappointing showing this past weekend, Michigan State dropped one spot in the USCHO.com rankings to No. 2 in the nation. The Spartans were passed by rival Michigan for the No. 1 ranking this week.

Why it matters

Michigan State had been the consensus No. 1 team in the country for several weeks, so this drop in the rankings is a significant shift in the national college hockey landscape. The Spartans are still in strong position to win the Big Ten regular season title, but this ranking change could impact their seeding and path in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

The details

Michigan State went 0-1-1 against Ohio State this past weekend, which resulted in them dropping a spot in this week's poll. The Spartans are now 24-7-1 overall and 15-6-1 in Big Ten play on the year, trailing rival Michigan by two points in the Big Ten standings. However, Michigan State has two games in hand this week to surpass the Wolverines for the regular season championship.

  • Michigan State had been No. 1 for a few weeks now, and was nearly the unanimous pick as the top ranked team last week.
  • This past weekend, Michigan State went 0-1-1 against Ohio State.

The players

Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans hockey team, who were previously ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Michigan

Michigan State's rival, who has now taken over the No. 1 ranking in the country.

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What they’re saying

“Michigan State hockey's time as the top ranked team in the country has come to an end -- at least for a week.”

— Robert Bondy, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The Spartans travel to Minnesota to wrap up the regular season this week, while Michigan is done and on a bye. The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This ranking change highlights the competitive nature of college hockey this season, with multiple teams vying for the top spot. Michigan State's ability to bounce back and regain the No. 1 ranking will be crucial as they prepare for the postseason and look to make a deep NCAA tournament run.