Michigan State Spartans football holds off Western Michigan Broncos, 35-13: Game thread replay
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Welcome to Week 1 coverage of the Michigan State football game vs. the Western Michigan Broncos. Follow the score, live updates and analysis below.
The conversation entering this matchup is centered on whether Michigan State can up the ante after last season's excellence, the two new transfer running backs, Jayden Reed's battle against some old friends and his old school and the family affair between the Thorne's. Payton Thorne takes the field for his second season as the Spartans' quarterback with great expectations. Across the field, his father, Jeff Thorne, will be watching but perhaps not as much as usual: He's in his first year as Western's offensive coordinator.
MAKING AN IMPACT:MSU freshman wide receiver scores touchdown on first offensive snap
PREGAME WARMUPS:Michigan State enters 2022 opener without DTs Dashaun Mallory, Jalen Hunt
It's also the first chance to see how MSU's maligned pass defense holds up after personnel moves from head coach Mel Tucker. Two transfers were added at linebacker, other pieces were moved around and big, fast Georgia cornerback Ameer Speed was brought in. The depth on defense looks much more impressive on paper. The Spartans ranked last in the FBS a year ago in passing yards allowed at 325 yards per game, their 27 touchdown passes allowed tied for 13th-most.
TRENDING:Mel Tucker kept a big Michigan State football secret a year ago. Is he doing it again?
The Broncos lost their opener last season at Michigan, 47-14, but two weeks later knocked off eventual ACC champion Pittsburgh, 44-41. They'll be breaking in a new quarterback, Jack Salopek, but return the one-two ground game of tailbacks Sean Tyler and La’Darius Jefferson, formerly of MSU. Salopek's top two targets look to be Corey Crooms (44 passes for 768 yards and six scores) and Wisconsin transfer A.J. Abbott (Northville/West Bloomfield).
READ MORE:Darius Snow's move to LB could be key to unlocking Michigan State's pass defense
No. 14 Michigan State Spartans (11-2 in 2021) vs. Western Michigan Broncos (8-5 in 2021)
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing.
TV: ESPN2 (moved from ESPN).
Radio: WJR-AM (760).
Betting line: Spartans by 21 points.
OUR PICKS:Michigan State vs. Western Michigan: Spartans win, but by how much?
Live updates
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State escapes scare vs. WMU, 35-13: Game thread replay
