Tom Izzo ties Bob Knight for most Big Ten wins by a head coach

Michigan State continued their impressive 2024-25 season with a win over the Oregon Ducks on Saturday afternoon, and Tom Izzo made some history in the process.

With the victory over their freshly-minted conference rival, Izzo matched the legendary Bob Knight for the most Big Ten victories by a head coach with 353. He’ll have a shot to break the tie and become the sole record holder on Tuesday, ironically enough against the Indiana Hoosiers inside the Breslin Center.

The win was more than just historic for the Spartans’ leader. It snapped a two-game skid, after Michigan State fell to USC and UCLA on the road in succession. They returned home to East Lansing to face another former Pac-12 foe in the Ducks, and they were able to emerge on top of Oregon when the final whistle blew.

Now, Michigan State is 19-4 on the season, and 10-2 within the Big Ten. Jase Richardson came up huge for the Spartans, as he amassed 29 points and five rebounds during his 35 minutes on the floor. Additionally, Jaxon Kohler’s double-double was paramount, as he put up 14 points and 12 rebounds during the victory.

It certainly didn’t come easy for Michigan State either on Saturday. Oregon raced out to a 14-point lead at halftime, dropping 50 on the Spartans. Shellshocked, it seemed as if a third consecutive loss was on the horizon, but whatever Izzo told his team during the break motivated them to get the dub at home.

They would double Oregon’s output in the second half. It was Michigan State’s turn to put up 50, while the Ducks only mustered 24 points during the final 20 minutes. That’s an awesome way to notch conference victory No. 353.

Looking ahead, the schedule features Indiana as Michigan State’s next challenge, before business truly picks up in the time to follow. After the Hoosiers, the Spartans will face five ranked teams in a row — Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Maryland and Wisconsin.

If they’re able to secure a record-breaking win for their coach against Indiana, it’ll provide some amazing momentum for the team moving into a difficult stretch. If the Hoosiers pull an upset, the Spartans will have to work harder than ever to reach the mark for their coach.

Nevertheless, Tom Izzo is continuing to cement himself as one of the best coaches to ever grace the game of basketball, and all eyes will be on the Breslin Center on Tuesday. The Spartans and Hoosiers will tip-off at 9:00 p.m. ET, and that game will be broadcasted on Peacock.