Michigan State University Athletics
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Michigan State Baseball Collects ABCA Team Academic Excellence Recognition For 10th Year In A Row
7/22/2026 2:23:00 PM | Baseball
MSU is only B1G team to earn honor in each of the last 10 seasons.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball was recognized with the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award for the 10th-year in a row, as announced by the ABCA on Wednesday.
The American Baseball Coaches Association recognized nearly 750 member high school and college programs nationwide that have earned the 2025-26 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award, presented by Sports Attack. This award recognizes ABCA member teams from all levels of high school and collegiate baseball that achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale during the 2025-26 academic year.
Nearly 500 college programs and more than 320 high school programs were recognized with this year's award.
"We're very proud to earn the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award for the 10th year in a row. It's an extra jewel in our crown to be the only Big Ten Conference team to have earned this honor the last 10 years," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Our players take a great deal of pride in fully defining both parts of the being a student-athlete, in every facet, and they strive for success both on the field and in the classroom. Just like in every year, a huge piece of the credit goes to our academic advisor Melissa Tallant, she works tirelessly to motivate and maximize our guys, and we're extremely grateful for all of her hard work."
Michigan State was one of eight Big Ten teams on the 132-team Division I list, with MSU the only team to have been on each of the last 10 years. The eight B1G teams is the most conference schools to earn the award in the 10 years.
"It's a privilege and honor to work with this terrific group of baseball players and coaches. We continue to pursue excellence as a program both on the field and in the classroom. Earning this accolade for 10 years in a row is a major accomplishment and these student-athletes take tremendous pride in this honor. They don't want to be the group that stops the streak, so this is great motivation for them to remain dedicated to do the best they can and reach that goal. I'm proud of them, and I not only appreciate, but admire their continued conscientiousness in accomplishing their goal in earning this honor for the 10th-consecutive year," associate director of MSU Student-Athlete Support Services Melissa Tallant said.Â
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There were not any B1G teams in 2016, before the Spartans were joined by Minnesota in 2017, then MSU was the lone conference team in both 2018 and 2019. Illinois and Ohio State joined MSU on the 2020 season list, then Michigan State was joined by Illinois and Rutgers for the 2020-21 season. The 2022 season saw six teams, with Michigan State joined by Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Rutgers, before the 2023 season's six teams with Michigan State being joined by Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern and Purdue. In 2024, MSU is joined by Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State and Purdue. Last season, Michigan State was joined by Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue and league newcomer Washington. This season, MSU was joined by Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue and Washington.
B1G Teams Receiving ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award
2015-16 - None
2016-17 (2) - Michigan State, Minnesota
2017-18 (1) - Michigan State
2018-19 (1) - Michigan State
2019-20 (3) - Michigan State, Illinois, Ohio State
2020-21 (3) - Michigan State, Illinois, Rutgers
2021-22 (6) - Michigan State, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers
2022-23 (6) - Michigan State, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern, PurdueÂ
2023-24 (7) - Michigan State, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue
2024-25 (6) - Michigan State, Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, Washington
2025-26 (8) - Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, Washington
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The American Baseball Coaches Association recognized nearly 750 member high school and college programs nationwide that have earned the 2025-26 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award, presented by Sports Attack. This award recognizes ABCA member teams from all levels of high school and collegiate baseball that achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale during the 2025-26 academic year.
Nearly 500 college programs and more than 320 high school programs were recognized with this year's award.
"We're very proud to earn the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award for the 10th year in a row. It's an extra jewel in our crown to be the only Big Ten Conference team to have earned this honor the last 10 years," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Our players take a great deal of pride in fully defining both parts of the being a student-athlete, in every facet, and they strive for success both on the field and in the classroom. Just like in every year, a huge piece of the credit goes to our academic advisor Melissa Tallant, she works tirelessly to motivate and maximize our guys, and we're extremely grateful for all of her hard work."
Michigan State was one of eight Big Ten teams on the 132-team Division I list, with MSU the only team to have been on each of the last 10 years. The eight B1G teams is the most conference schools to earn the award in the 10 years.
"It's a privilege and honor to work with this terrific group of baseball players and coaches. We continue to pursue excellence as a program both on the field and in the classroom. Earning this accolade for 10 years in a row is a major accomplishment and these student-athletes take tremendous pride in this honor. They don't want to be the group that stops the streak, so this is great motivation for them to remain dedicated to do the best they can and reach that goal. I'm proud of them, and I not only appreciate, but admire their continued conscientiousness in accomplishing their goal in earning this honor for the 10th-consecutive year," associate director of MSU Student-Athlete Support Services Melissa Tallant said.Â
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There were not any B1G teams in 2016, before the Spartans were joined by Minnesota in 2017, then MSU was the lone conference team in both 2018 and 2019. Illinois and Ohio State joined MSU on the 2020 season list, then Michigan State was joined by Illinois and Rutgers for the 2020-21 season. The 2022 season saw six teams, with Michigan State joined by Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Rutgers, before the 2023 season's six teams with Michigan State being joined by Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern and Purdue. In 2024, MSU is joined by Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State and Purdue. Last season, Michigan State was joined by Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue and league newcomer Washington. This season, MSU was joined by Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue and Washington.
B1G Teams Receiving ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award
2015-16 - None
2016-17 (2) - Michigan State, Minnesota
2017-18 (1) - Michigan State
2018-19 (1) - Michigan State
2019-20 (3) - Michigan State, Illinois, Ohio State
2020-21 (3) - Michigan State, Illinois, Rutgers
2021-22 (6) - Michigan State, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers
2022-23 (6) - Michigan State, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern, PurdueÂ
2023-24 (7) - Michigan State, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue
2024-25 (6) - Michigan State, Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, Washington
2025-26 (8) - Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, Washington
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Tuesday, February 24
Monday, February 16
Monday, January 26
Monday, May 19