Penn State 1, Gruff Sparty 0.
The Michigan State football team started fast against the Nittany Lions on Saturday, thanks to some extra muscle around their ears, but they struggled in the second half in an otherwise promising performance from MSU quarterback Payton Thorne.
MSU surrendered an 11-point halftime lead and lost, 39-24, in its first game wearing the Gruff Sparty helmet, which featured a jowl-protruding Spartan caricature that fans have been clamoring to see incorporated into the uniform.
As expected, the Gruff Sparty helmet received near-unanimous praise on social media after the game.