Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith reflects on win over Western Michigan and previews Boston College

Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith reviewed his team's performance in the 2025 season-opening win over Western Michigan and previewed Saturday's showdown with Boston College — a rematch from the 2024 season.

The Spartans are coming off of a 23-6 win over the Broncos. Meanwhile, the Eagles dominated FCS opponent Fordham by a final score of 66-10 to open their 2025 campaign.

Smith praised the crowd at Spartan Stadium and credited the fans for helping Michigan State open the season with a win over Western Michigan.

"Just recapping what we saw off the tape and things — we're all about trying to find ways to learn and improve — first experience, game day and the like, I did think the atmosphere helped us," Smith said about Friday night's victory. "Student section from the get-go, pregame, the energy, the crowd, was a huge help and fun to be a part of. So, always love to play at Spartan Stadium. (We) got another one here this weekend (versus Boston College)."

On offense, the Spartans started strong in the first half before stalling out in the second half. MSU scored 21 points in the opening half, but only added two points as a team — courtesy of the MSU defense recording a safety. Smith was pleased with the Spartans' offensive efforts to begin the game, but is well aware that the second-half performance was not good enough.

"Offensively, the quick start is good to see," Smith said about the win over WMU. "Some of the physicality in the run game in the first half, I did think up front, guys did a nice job of the execution. Those first two drives — let's face it, those aren't short ones, 70-plus yards on the first two drives — the quick start was big, and really getting scores three of the (first) four possessions (was also big) — I know we had the late long field goal (miss) at the end — but kind of a tale of two halves.

"Found ways in the second half. We just — call it execution, getting behind the sticks, lack of detail. Credit (to) Western Michigan, too, they've got a couple players over there, created some problems, but we weren't pleased with what it looked like in the second half offensively. So, we're gonna need a better job of really playing a complete game, 60 minutes offensively."

While the offense didn't play a "complete" game, the Michigan State defense certainly did. The Spartans' defense did not allow a single point to the Broncos. WMU's only score of the game came on a pick-six when former MSU defensive back Tate Hallock intercepted a pass thrown by MSU backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic in the fourth quarter.

Michigan State also recorded four sacks, eight quarterback hurries, four pass break-ups and an interception. Smith was happy with the way defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Rossi's unit played on Friday night.

"Defense, obviously a lot to like," Smith said. "We were really pleased with some of the response. You think about the first play of the game, defensively, (WMU) hit an explosive play, deep ball, there was no panic on that (defensive) side. Those guys just regrouped and found a way to get a fourth-down stop. They had a few plays in there that they made that the defense bowed up. Later in the game, defense — whether it was turnovers, the response to, onside kick type thing — they played for four quarters."

Smith also noted that the defense rotated many players throughout the game against Western Michigan. MSU played around 30 defensive players throughout the contest, and that is something that MSU takes pride is in being able to trust multiple Spartans to play a role and keep guys fresh.

Additionally, Smith praised the play of the special teams units, which dealt with various injuries at the kicker and long snapper positions. He also said he was pleased with the "cleanless" of the Spartans' first game, but he knows that Michigan State will need to "take a step from one game to the next."

Looking forward to Boston College and lessons learned in defeat

That "step" Smith mentioned is indeed needed for the Spartans, as Michigan State goes from hosting a Mid-American Conference (MAC) conference foe last week to hosting a Power Four, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent this weekend. Boston College and head coach Bill O'Brien come to East Lansing on the heels of a dominant Week One win and with a victory over Smith and the Spartans last year.