Spartans Open 2025 Season Under the Lights Friday Against Western Michigan

Game 1: Michigan State (0-0) vs. Western Michigan (0-0)

Date: Friday, Aug. 29
Kickoff: 7:05 p.m. ET
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (74,866)
Surface: Natural Grass
Game Notes: MSU | WMU

►GAME DAY INFORMATION
Game Day Central (Parking/Tailgating/Timeline)

Parking: Select donor lots (56, 61, 62, 79, 124) open at 11 a.m.; public lots open at 2 p.m. | Parking Map

Game Day Updates: Fans can sign up to receive game day updates from MSU Police and Public Safety this season by texting SPARTANFB25 to 888777. Updates will include safety information, potential game delays, traffic suggestions, etc.

Stripe the Stadium: MSU will "Stripe the Stadium" with even sections wearing green and odd sections/student section wearing white for the season opener.

Additional Links:
• Construction/Traffic Information
• Purchase Tickets
• The Munn Tailgate Information

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: FS1
Streaming/Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Dan Hellie (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Live Stats

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jehuu Caulcrick
Sidelines: Tre Mosley
Broadcast Hosts: Will Tieman and Dalton Shetler
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/watch, MSU Spartans app, Tune In radio
Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)
Affiliates: 23 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: SiriusXM Ch. 83 | SiriusXM App
Pregame Show: Begins at 5:30 p.m.

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 15-2
Series in East Lansing: MSU leads, 14-2
Last Meeting: MSU 35, WMU 13 (2022 in East Lansing)
Current Series Streak: 13 by MSU

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
MSU Record: 5-7 (second year)
Overall Record: 39-42 (eighth year)
Record vs. WMU: First meeting

WMU Head Coach: Lance Taylor
WMU Record: 10-15 (third year)
Overall Record: 10-15 (third year)
Record vs. MSU: First meeting

►SPARTAN FOOTBALL NEWS & NOTES
• Michigan State kicks off its 129th season of football and begins its second season under head coach Jonathan Smith on Friday, Aug. 29 against Western Michigan. Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. ET in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1 with Dan Hellie (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst) on the call. MSU will "Stripe the Stadium" with even sections wearing green and odd sections/student section wearing white for the season opener.

• Friday's game marks the 18th meeting between Michigan State and Western Michigan. The Spartans lead the overall series, 15-2, including a 13-game winning streak that dates back to 1921. In the last matchup in 2022, MSU defeated WMU, 35-13.

• This marks the 11th time in the past 15 years that Michigan State will open with a Friday night game in East Lansing; it's also the 13th time since 2011 that MSU will begin the season on a Friday night. MSU is 10-0 in its previous home Friday night games to start the season and 12-0 overall in its Friday night season openers during that time span.

• Michigan State is 11-0 in home Friday night games since 2011 and 13-2 overall in Friday night games during that same time span. MSU played three Friday night games last season (wins over Florida Atlantic and Purdue; loss at Oregon). MSU is 3-0 in Friday night games against WMU, including 2-0 in Spartan Stadium (2013, 2022); the Spartans beat the Broncos in Kalamazoo in the 2015 season opener.

• Smith is 1-0 in Friday night season openers at Michigan State as the Spartans topped Florida Atlantic, 16-10, during his MSU head coaching debut on Aug. 30, 2024.

• Michigan State is 88-37-3 (.699) all-time in season openers, including a 23-3 record (.885) in its last 26 openers. In addition, the Spartans are 106-22 (.828) all-time in home openers, including victories in 25 of the past 26 years (only loss: 2020 vs. Rutgers on Oct. 24, 2020). MSU is 6-0 in season openers against Western Michigan (1997, 2003, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2022).

• MSU has won 24 consecutive home openers against nonconference opponents, dating back to 1999.

• Michigan State head football coach Jonathan Smith announced the team captains for the 2025 season following the completion of preseason camp on Aug. 18. The five captains – junior quarterback Aidan Chiles, graduate senior defensive lineman Quindarius Dunnigan, graduate senior linebacker Sam Edwards, graduate senior offensive lineman Matt Gulbin and junior linebacker Jordan Hall – were voted by their teammates.

►A LOOK AT THE 2025 SCHEDULE
• Michigan State opens the 2025 season with three straight nonconference games in Spartan Stadium, beginning with Western Michigan on Friday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. on FS1. MSU will also host Boston College on Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. on NBC and Youngstown State on Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m. on BTN.

• The Spartans will begin conference play with two road games, starting Sept. 20 at USC, followed by Oct. 4 at Nebraska after a bye week.

• MSU returns to East Lansing to face UCLA for Homecoming on Oct. 11 in the first match-up between the two schools since 1974.

• Michigan State then travels to Indiana on Oct. 18 before hosting Michigan on Oct. 25.

• In November, the Spartans head to Minnesota on Nov. 1, then take a week off on Nov. 8 for their second bye week. MSU's final three games include a home game against Penn State on Nov. 15, a trip to Iowa on Nov. 22, and the regular-season finale vs. Maryland on Nov. 29 at Ford Field in Detroit.

►QUICK GLANCE AT THE SPARTANS
• The Spartans are returning 34 letterwinners from last season's team, including 21 on defense, 10 on offense and three on special teams. In addition, MSU has 20 position players returning with starting experience wearing the Green and White, including 10 on offense and 10 on defense.

• Junior quarterback Aidan Chiles started all 12 games for the Spartans as a true sophomore in 2024. He finished ninth in the Big Ten in total offense (220.0 ypg; 2,640 yards) and became the sixth Spartan sophomore QB in program history to throw for 2,000-plus yards in a season.

• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh was one of the top freshmen in the nation last season and set Michigan State true freshman records for most receiving yards (649) and receptions (41) in a single-season. He ranked eighth in the Big Ten in yards per catch (15.8) and 13th in receiving yards per game (59.0 ypg), marks which also ranked second among Big Ten freshmen.

• Senior tight end Jack Velling, who was named to the Mackey Award Watch List for the second year in a row, caught a career-high 36 passes for 411 yards and one TD in his first season as a Spartan after transferring from Oregon State.

• Defensively, senior defensive back Nikai Martinez ranked third on the team in 2024 with 51 tackles and also had two interceptions, two pass break-ups, and 2.5 tackles for loss while starting all 12 games at safety. He enters his second season in East Lansing after playing his first two years (2022-23) at UCF.

• Fellow senior defensive back Malik Spencer started the first nine games at safety last season before missing the last three games due to an injury; he ranked sixth on the team with 44 stops and recorded two pass break-ups and one interception.

• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley, a Ray Guy Award candidate and preseason All-American, led the Big Ten in punting in 2024 with his 47.9-yard average and was a second-team all-conference selection.

►SEVERAL SPARTANS EARN PRESEASON HONORS ENTERING 2025 SEASON
Several Michigan State Spartans have earned preseason honors entering the 2025 season.

• QB Aidan Chiles (Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List)
• P Ryan Eckley (Ray Guy Award Watch List; Senior Bowl Top 300 List; Preseason All-American: Walter Camp, second team; AP, second team; Phil Steele, third team; Athlon Sports, fourth team; Preseason All-Big Ten: Phil Steele, first team; USA TODAY, first team; Athlon Sports, second team)
• OL Matt Gulbin (Rimington Trophy Watch List)
• LB Jordan Hall (AFCA Good Works Team nominee; Wuerffel Trophy Watch List)
• WR Omari Kelly (Biletnikoff Award Watch List)
• WR Nick Marsh (Preseason All-Big Ten: The Athletic, second team; Athlon Sports, third team)
• DB Nikai Martinez (Senior Bowl Top 300 List)
• WR Chrishon McCray (Biletnikoff Award Watch List)
• DB Armorion Smith (Comeback Player of the Year Watch List)
• TE Jack Velling (Mackey Award Watch List; Senior Bowl Top 300 List; Preseason All-Big Ten: The Athletic, second team; Phil Steele and Athlon Sports, third team)

►SPARTANS WELCOME 24 TRANSFERS TO 2025 ROSTER
• The Spartans are welcoming 24 transfers to the 2025 roster. Sixteen transfers joined the team in January and participated in spring practice, while eight transfers arrived to campus over the summer.

Here's a breakdown of the incoming transfers by position:

OFFENSE (10)
»WR (4): R-So. Evan Boyd (Central Michigan), Gr.-5 Rodney Bullard Jr. (Valdosta State), Sr. Omari Kelly (Middle Tennessee State), R-Jr. Chrishon McCray (Kent State)
»OL (4): Gr.-5 Caleb Carter (Western Carolina), Gr.-5 Matt Gulbin (Wake Forest), R-Jr. Conner Moore (Montana State), R-Jr. Luka Vincic (Oregon State)
»TE (1): R-Jr. Kai Rios (Indiana State)
»RB (1): Sr.-5 Elijah Tau-Tolliver (Sacramento State)

DEFENSE (14)
»DL (1): Sr.-5 Grady Kelly (Florida State)

»EDGE (4): R-Fr. Anelu Lafaele (Wisconsin), R-So. David Santiago (Air Force) Gr.-5 Isaac Smith (Texas Tech), Gr.-6 Cam Williams (Georgia State)

»LB (1): R-Jr. Aisea Moa (BYU)

»DB (8): Gr.-5 Malcolm Bell (UConn), Sr. NiJhay Burt (Eastern Illinois), Sr.-6 Devynn Cromwell (Texas Tech), Gr.-6 Joshua Eaton (Texas State), Gr.-5 Dontavius Nash (East Carolina), R-Jr. Anthony Pinnace III (UTSA), R-So. Tracy Revels (Bowling Green), R-Fr. Elisha West (Merrimack)

Additional Transfer Breakdown:
By Class:
• Seniors (Graduate/Sixth-Year/Fifth-Year/Fourth-Year): 13
• Redshirt Juniors: 6
• Redshirt Sophomores: 3
• Redshirt Freshmen: 2

►MSU-WMU SERIES NOTES
• Friday's game marks the 18th meeting between Michigan State and Western Michigan. The Spartans lead the overall series, 15-2, including a 13-game winning streak that dates back to 1921. In the last matchup in 2022, MSU defeated WMU, 35-13.

• MSU is 3-0 in Friday night games against WMU, including 2-0 in Spartan Stadium (2013, 2022); the Spartans beat the Broncos in Kalamazoo in the 2015 season opener.

• MSU is 14-2 against WMU in East Lansing, including an 11-0 record in Spartan Stadium. The series dates back to 1908, as Michigan State topped Western Michigan, 35-0, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. After playing five times between 1908 and 1921, with MSU holding a 3-2 advantage in the series, the two teams didn't meet again until 1980.

►SPARTANS ANNOUNCE CAPTAINS FOR 2025 SEASON
• Michigan State head football coach Jonathan Smith announced the team captains for the 2025 season following the completion of preseason camp on Aug. 18. The five captains – junior quarterback Aidan Chiles, graduate senior defensive lineman Quindarius Dunnigan, graduate senior linebacker Sam Edwards, graduate senior offensive lineman Matt Gulbin and junior linebacker Jordan Hall – were voted by their teammates.

• Chiles is the first Spartan to be voted a captain in consecutive seasons since Xavier Henderson and Payton Thorne in 2021-22.

►SPARTAN FRIDAY NIGHT SEASON OPENERS SINCE 2011
• Since 2011, Michigan State has played 12 season openers on Friday night (12-0 record), including 10 in Spartan Stadium (10-0). Here's a look at MSU's Friday night season-opening games since 2011:

• Sept. 2, 2011: No. 17 Michigan State 28, Youngstown State 6 (East Lansing)
• Aug. 31, 2012: No. 13 Michigan State 17, No. 24 Boise State 13 (East Lansing)
• Aug. 30, 2013: Michigan State 26, Western Michigan 13 (East Lansing)
• Aug. 29, 2014: No. 8 Michigan State 45, Jacksonville State 7 (East Lansing)
• Sept. 4, 2015: No. 5 Michigan State 37, Western Michigan 24 (Kalamazoo)
• Sept. 2, 2016: No. 12 Michigan State 28, Furman 13 (East Lansing)
• Aug. 31, 2018: No. 11 Michigan State 38, Utah State 31 (East Lansing)
• Aug. 30, 2019: No. 18 Michigan State 28, Tulsa 7 (East Lansing)
• Sept. 3, 2021: Michigan State 38, Northwestern 21 (Evanston)
• Sept. 2, 2022: Michigan State 35, Western Michigan 13 (East Lansing)
• Sept. 1, 2023: Michigan State 31, Central Michigan 7 (East Lansing)
• Aug. 30, 2024: Michigan State 16, Florida Atlantic 10 (East Lansing)

►UNDER THE LIGHTS PT. 2
• Friday marks the 33rd night game in Spartan Stadium history; MSU is 23-9 overall (.719) in night games in East Lansing. MSU's first-ever night game in Spartan Stadium was a 27-13 win over USC to open the 1987 season.

►SPARTANS SUCCESSFUL IN HOME AND SEASON OPENERS
• Michigan State is 88-37-3 (.699) all-time in season openers, including a 23-3 record (.885) in its last 26 openers.

• In addition, the Spartans are 106-22 (.828) all-time in home openers, including victories in 25 of the past 26 years (only loss: 2020 vs. Rutgers on Oct. 24, 2020).

• MSU has won 24 consecutive home openers against nonconference opponents, dating back to 1999.

►A LOOK AT THE 2025 SPARTAN COACHING STAFF
• Jonathan Smith, who led Oregon State to new heights during his tenure over six seasons (2018-23), was named Michigan State University's 26th head football coach on Nov. 25, 2023. Smith enters his second season leading the Spartans in 2025 after laying a strong foundation for the program during his first year in 2024.

• Named the 2022 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year, Smith built Oregon State into one of the top teams in the conference. He led the Beavers, who were ranked as high as 11th in the College Football Playoff rankings in 2023, to an 8-4 record in the regular season and their third straight bowl appearance, a first for the program since 2006-09. OSU went 25-13 in 2021-23 under Smith, including a No. 17 ranking in 2022 and a win over Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl. He also has experience coaching in the College Football Playoff as an offensive coordinator at Washington in 2016.

• Known for developing talent, the 46-year-old Smith has coached 10 All-Americans, 20 NFL Draft picks and more than 100 all-conference selections in his career, while also coaching in 10 bowl games, including the 2016 College Football Playoff as an offensive coordinator at Washington.

• Eleven Beavers were drafted under Smith's tutelage, and an additional 20 signed as undrafted free agents. Offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga became the highest-drafted OSU player in 10 years as he was picked in the first round (No. 14 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.

• Six of Smith's assistants at Oregon State joined him in East Lansing: secondary coach Blue Adams, assistant head coach/running backs coach/co-special teams coordinator Keith Bhonapha, offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, offensive line coach/run game coordinator Jim Michalczik, defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa and tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Brian Wozniak. Jon Boyer, who was a quality control coach at Oregon State under Smith from 2019-23, was named quarterbacks coach in January 2025.

• Joe Rossi, a 2024 Broyles Award nominee, begins his second year as the program's defensive coordinator/linebackers coach. Co-special teams coordinator/rush ends Chad Wilt also enters his second year on staff in 2025. Former Spartan great Courtney Hawkins is in his sixth season as the wide receivers coach at MSU.

• James Adams was named Michigan State's safeties coach in January 2025.

Spartans Open 2025 Season Under the Lights Friday Against Western Michigan

Game 1: Michigan State (0-0) vs. Western Michigan (0-0)

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Players Mentioned

Malcolm Bell

Evan Boyd

Rodney Bullard Jr.

NiJhay Burt

Caleb Carter

Aidan Chiles

Devynn Cromwell

Quindarius Dunnigan

Joshua Eaton

Ryan Eckley

Sam Edwards

Matt Gulbin

Jordan Hall

Grady Kelly

Omari Kelly

Anelu Lafaele

Nick Marsh

Nikai Martinez

Chrishon McCray

Aisea Moa

Conner Moore

Dontavius Nash

Anthony Pinnace III

Tracy Revels

Kai Rios

David Santiago

Armorion Smith

Isaac Smith

Malik Spencer

Elijah Tau-Tolliver

Jack Velling

Luka Vincic

Elisha West

Cam Williams