EAST LANSING — It might not have been easy, or pretty, but No. 12 Michigan State survived its season opener against Utah State on Friday night, 38-31.
Here are three takeaways from columnist Shawn Windsor:
We've seen this before
It’s always hard this time of year at Spartan Stadium. That’s Mark Dantonio’s way.
His history, too.
Look it up and you’ll find a decade of brutal openers. Of squeakers and slog-fests against teams Michigan State was always heavily favored to beat.
Which isn’t to excuse the penalties and turnovers and self-defeating plays by the Spartans.