Save for a few overthrown passes — once missing a wide open Bennie Fowler in the endzone because he hurled a Justin Verlander fastball at the junior wideout — Maxwell threw crisp passes and spread the ball around, completing passes to seven different receivers before being benched in the third quarter.

Head coach Mark Dantonio had a clear plan in mind, allowing Maxwell to air it out and get everything he needed to out of his system before facing a No. 20 Notre Dame team (2-0 overall) that always seems to give the Spartans some trouble, no matter the year.

Central Michigan head coach Dan Enos threw everything he could at Maxwell, blitzing him down after down.

The Chippewa defense got after Maxwell down after down, but the Midland, Mich., native showed the poise of a veteran signal caller. Maxwell took the rush in stride, moving around in the pocket and making the plays he needed to.

After the game, Maxwell challenged the third-year head coach on Central Michigan’s decision to keep after him.

“He said to me, ‘Coach, why don’t you run a couple more blitzes?’” Enos, a former MSU assistant coach, recalled at the postgame press conference.

After being chased around the backfield for the better part of a fall afternoon, eluding defenders to find open receivers, Maxwell isn’t afraid to take a few jabs at his former coach. In fact, maybe he did want Enos to take a few more shots at him.

He seemed to thrive on it.

Maxwell will have to get used to the pressure. With the rest of the Big Ten crumbling around the state of Michigan Saturday afternoon, he might find himself not only leading the Spartans, but keeping the conference relevant.

As Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, Iowa and Purdue all faltered in nonconference games, the quality of one of the nation’s most prestigious conferences was called into question.

The general consensus is that a trip to Pasadena is MSU’s for the taking. And the passing game will be key in that race.

However, Maxwell still is a work in progress. Although he was able to get his receivers more involved, he struggled at times, twice missing Keith Mumphery because he put the ball there before the sophomore wide receiver was expecting it.

But timing is something that comes when chemistry is developed.

And chemistry comes with time. But for now, the Spartans can rest assured that Maxwell is well on his way to where they need him to be.

Jesse O’Brien is a State News football reporter. He can be reached at obrie151@msu.edu.