It had that childish pretense of wanting to grow up a superhero before learning the realities that magic, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy do not exist outside of the mind and flying, requires wings.

On Saturday, Indiana divulged the truth to MSU — time to cut the fantasy.

MSU was the better team on Saturday night for three quarters, but it's time to lay to rest the adolescent argument of “if only.” The Spartans were assessed drive-stalling penalties and again decided self-inflicted ugly play calling were ideal ways to win.

It no longer matters what the team decides to clean up, whether it be penalties or drops or misreads. Five weeks into the season, the mistakes are too deep and too boneheaded.

The plays were there and they weren't executed. A deep streak route bomb to Donnie Corley was dropped by the young receiver. It was a sure touchdown and it’s a play that’s made in a couple years by him, but for now, he’ll have to grow.

Others missed assignments, some still can’t cover a tennis ball and some still haven’t caught onto the speed of college football. It all comes with experience, and for now MSU will have to accept it doesn’t have the right amount.

In recent years, games against Indiana were counted wins for a mature football team. But for a team grinding through puberty, every game is no longer any sort of guarantee.

MSU was predicted to take a step back, a 10-2 record at best, 9-3 or 8-4 expected. The Spartans lost an NFL-caliber quarterback, an acrobatic leading receiver, their bulldozing All-American offensive linemen and their vaunted defensive front.

With their departures, Tyler O’Connor is left looking like a freshman, the receivers can’t find their hands and Malik McDowell, as talented as he is, has been reduced to human. It’s become a minor rebuilding project.

Steps back are always taken at national programs. Consistency by the likes of Alabama are incredible feats, hence why Nick Saban is the game’s best coach. Programs have to suffer through the four loss seasons in order to fulfill the 12-win seasons.

But first a program must accept it, not foolishly cast out the idea that it can win every game behind the inexperience of youth.

I wouldn’t expect a team to admit that its hopes for the season are dashed after just two losses. That’s not the program that’s been built by head coach Mark Dantonio, and in a sense it’s both a blessing and a curse for the program.

The team will continue to fight, perhaps changing little, sticking to its guns. But pistols often can’t out-duel a machine gun.

Up against tougher competition with the pieces clicking (Ohio State University, University of Michigan, hell—even Maryland) MSU won’t be considered the favorite. And with the pieces jumbled, the year is all but lost.

This all seems rather familiar. 2012 was marred by the same inadequacies, an unproven offensive line, a lacking defensive line and skill guys who hadn’t seen the rigors of real college football and a quarterback with a lot prying eyes and not much help.

MSU is now stuck in that quizzical limbo. After being crowned Big Ten champions, twice in the last three seasons, the fanbase has taken the inches and driven miles. After years of nearly anonymous football, the gold standard is a Big Ten title.

I can understand the feelings of the fans, wanting to win consistently and at a clip that allows them to sleep at night, but 12-0 every year is not attainable here or anywhere.

The program has toiled in insignificance for the greater part of nearly 50 years and has been spoiled in the last 10 years. Reloading periods occur and much like the fanbase, MSU will have to accept it, too.

Coach Dantonio is right to keep a positive outlook, he knows what he’s constructed and knows what he has.

But even though he says MSU can win every football game they play in next, somebody eventually beats the Davids and turns them into Goliaths.

Perhaps they’ll grow a little.