The Spartans were led by 25th-year head coach Tom Izzo and play their home games at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan as members of the Big Ten Conference.

With a win against Ohio State on March 8, 2020, the Spartans earned a share of their third straight Big Ten regular season championship.

Izzo stated he was "devastated" by the denial and announced he had resigned from his position on the board of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

[41] In a poll of over 100 college basketball coaches conducted by CBS Sports, the Spartans were picked to win the 2020 National Championship, receiving a record 54% of the votes.

[53] Xavier Tillman was named to the preseason watch list for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award.

[54] Joshua Langford was named to the preseason watch list for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.

Kithier grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds as the Spartans used several different lineups in the tune-up prior to the season opener on November 5.

[71] Rocket Watts added a clutch three-pointer after missing a layup on the prior possession to keep the Spartans in the game.

The Spartans next faced Georgia, coached by former Izzo assistant Tom Crean, in the consolation bracket on day two of the tournament.

MSU turned the ball over 16 times, but Cassius Winston scored 21 points and Xavier Tillman added 15 as the Spartans held on for a 77–71 win.

Foster Loyer scored a season-high 13 for the Spartans as MSU reached the 100-point mark for the second time on the season, winning 101–48.

Foster Loyer started in his stead and scored a career-high 16 points, making all four of his three-point shots as MSU pounded Western Michigan 95–62.

The Spartan defense continued to play well in the second half, limiting Illinois to under 30% from the field and allowing only three made three point baskets.

Marcus Bingham Jr. failed to score for the Spartans, but grabbed 12 rebounds with five blocks and was praised for his defensive play on Illinois big men by Tom Izzo after the game.

The Spartans welcomed Michigan to East Lansing on January 5 for a Rivalry game having beaten the Wolverine three times the prior year.

Three days before the Spartans returned home to face Wisconsin on January 17, the school announced that guard Kyle Ahrens would miss extended time as he looked to recover from a plethora of injuries.

Aaron Henry returned to the starting lineup, but struggled from the floor, not making a field goal until late in the second half.

Foster Loyer added 12 points on four three-pointers and MSU was able to rest many of their key players for large portions of the second half.

[104] The 79–50 win moved MSU a half game ahead of Illinois for the Big Ten lead at 8–2 in conference play and 16–5 overall.

[106] This did not seem to matter in the first half as the Badgers jumped out to an early double digit lead and looked to be on the brink of blowing out the Spartans.

The Spartans then traveled to Champaign to face Illinois on February 11 having fallen out of the AP poll for the first time since the end of 2017.

Cassius Winston then drove to the basket drawing three Illini defenders and his shot which may well have been a pass was rebounded and dunked home by Xavier Tillman with six seconds remaining.

ESPN College Gameday came to East Lansing as MSU welcomed Big Ten leader Maryland to town on February 15.

Two free throws with little time remaining gave Maryland a 67–60 win and all but ended MSU's hopes for a conference championship.

The Spartans continued to dominate the second half, leading by double digits most of the way as MSU cruised to a 78–66 win over the Terrapins.

The Spartan defense also held the Nittany Lions to no made three-pointers (0 for 13) in the second half as they pulled away for the win.

Rocket Watts continued his strong play, scoring 19 points, while Tillman added 15 as the Spartans extended their lead to 20 with more than two minutes remaining in the game.

MSU held on for the win, 80–69, securing their third straight Big Ten regular season championship, their 10th under Tom Izzo.

[122] Additionally, the Spartans participated in the Gavitt Tip-Off Games for the first time, playing Big East opponent, Seton Hall.

[123][124] It was expected that the Spartans would take an exhibition tour of Spain in late summer, but the school announced on June 17 that there would be no trip.