“The offensive line is holding up well, they made things go,” junior quarterback Aidan Chiles said. “It starts with them. The offensive line did a good job and they came out and protected me as much as they could.”

This revamped offensive line – large and strong with good footwork –  moved Bronco bodies from the get-go. On the tenth play of the offensive season, the big boys in the trenches opened a gap so large that an ocean liner could fit through it, allowing sophomore running back Brandon Tullis to score the first points for the Spartans with a 12 yard touchdown run. 

On the ground, the Spartans were tougher, faster and more physical than the Broncos and it showed on almost every carry. MSU ran for 181 yards on 44 attempts averaging 4.1 yards per carry with two touchdowns. 

The Spartans' ability to run the football helped an offense whose passing numbers were bleak. To begin the game, Chiles and his receiving corps connected on 11 of their first 13 passes – one of which was a touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh. But as the game progressed, the groove of the Spartan aerial assault was lost – partially due to off-target throws and a lack-luster pass blocking display – thus bringing down the groove of the offense as a whole. 

In the second half with the groove lost, the Spartans fell flat. In total, they only obtained 131 yards, allowing two out of their four sacks and a late game pick-six.

“We didn’t score, we didn’t finish, and part of that is on me,” Chiles said. “This is better than what we did last year. We came out and executed to an extent, but at the end of the day, we have to finish.”

To finish the game, Chiles went 17-for-23 in passing with his top target being senior wide receiver Omari Kelly, who brought in seven catches for 75 yards. 

Domination wasn’t just on the offense side, but also on the defensive side, who, unlike the offense, were anything but methodical. Instead, the Spartan defense was fast and tenacious, allowing zero points and only 217 total yards.

What's equally as impressive as the week one shut out is the fact that the Spartan front-seven held first team All-MAC running back Jalen Buckley to a total of 21 yards in nine carries. The previous season, Buckley rushed for an average of 5.3 yards per carry. Against MSU, the Broncos best weapon only averaged 2.3. 

“There's a lot to like defensively,” MSU head coach Jonathan Smith said. “Both Wayne (Matthews) and Jordan (Hall) played really well. Communication, flying around, we were hitting the quarterback, not only sacking him, but also getting home.”

Like the new tradition of the green fireworks that soar through the air after every score, MSU’s defense is also beginning a new tradition of its own: record a safety in the inaugural game. In the middle of the third quarter, following a 41-yard punt by senior Ryan Eckley that pinned WMU at its own one yard line, the Bronco offense found themselves with their backs against the wall with the student section roaring behind them. In one play, MSU’s stifling defense swallowed Buckley before he could exit the end zone, adding two points. It was the first MSU safety since the 2024 inaugural game against Florida Atlantic. 

Along with the safety, the Spartans' defense also forced three turnovers – one interception by senior linebacker Wayne Mathews and two turnovers on downs – as well as four sacks with 11 tackles for loss.

In all facets of play, the Spartans dominated; Methodically on offense and tenaciously on defense. As a Big Ten team should be, MSU was bigger, stronger, faster, and better than WMU, and they showed that through four quarters of play. With a 1-0 start, the Spartans look to improve to 2-0 with a matchup against Boston College next Saturday at 7:30 in Spartan Stadium.