Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's athletic teams are gearing up for a busy week of competition from January 2 to January 5. The university's hockey, men's basketball, and women's gymnastics teams are all set to face significant challenges.

The Michigan State hockey team, currently ranked No. 1, will host Wisconsin at Munn Ice Arena on Thursday night before traveling to Chicago for a Saturday game against the Badgers at Wrigley Field. This event is part of the Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series. "MSU staged the first modern-day outdoor game on Oct. 6, 2001, at Spartan Stadium," according to a statement about the team's history with outdoor games. The upcoming match will be their sixth outdoor game in program history and their first since playing at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2015.

In men's basketball, Michigan State holds a ranking of No. 18/15 and will return to Big Ten play with an away game against Ohio State on Friday night. The Spartans have opened conference action with a strong start, maintaining a 2-0 record alongside two other Big Ten schools. Meanwhile, Ohio State has recorded wins over notable teams such as No. 19 Texas and No. 4 Kentucky.

The women's gymnastics team at Michigan State is preparing for its season opener against Western Michigan on Saturday at home. Ranked No. 11 nationally, the team is also celebrating its B1G Championship victory from last year by offering fans photo opportunities with the Big Ten trophies and commemorative championship confetti during the event.