To better understand what opponents face when they visit, MLive stepped into the belly of the beast for a firsthand experience.

Nittany Lions captain Dane Dowiak announced that he will miss the remainder of the season.

Taking on a rested Penn State squad, the Wolverines came away with two more wins, though the first contest did go to a shootout. Nonetheless, Michigan continues to dominate the NCAA rankings. Free agent T.J. Hughes is still the top scorer on the team, while goalie Jack Ivankovic (NSH) is finding his range again after returning from injury.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Michigan State’s No. 1-ranked hockey team hosts Notre Dame on Thursday and Friday, and head coach Adam Nightingale held his weekly press conference on Tuesday. The Spartans are coming off a bye week after taking four points in a series split vs. No. 2 Michigan earlier this month.

Michigan State’s hockey team has ended Michigan’s 10-week run at the top of the national polls. The Spartans and Wolverines changed places at the top of the U.S. College Hockey Online and USA Hockey polls after MSU took four of six points against Michigan during last week’s two-game series – the first ever with the two rivals ranked as the top two teams in the country.

After defeating Michigan 5-2 in Detroit, Michigan State hockey hopped its biggest rival in the latest USCHO rankings.

Michigan State is the new No. 1 team in college hockey. The Spartans bypassed the Wolverines in the lastest USCHO.com national rankings on Monday. Michigan had been the No. 1-ranked team for 10 weeks but Michigan State picked up three out of a possible four points against the Wolverines this past weekend.

Follow along live as No. 1 faces off with No. 2 in college hockey's biggest rivalry between Michigan State and Michigan.

No. 1 Michigan played No. 2 Michigan State in the annual Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026.

Michigan State is still the top collegiate men's hockey team in the nation.