Postgame Takeaways from Michigan State's Victory Against Florida Atlantic

The season opener between Florida Atlantic (0-1) and Michigan State (1-0) showcased plenty of moments to remember on both sides with the Spartans coming away with the 16-10 victory on Friday night.

Michigan State demonstrated how effective their defense can be, playing an aggressive style that will put immense pressure on the opponent's offensive line to fend them off and the quarterback to constantly be wary of them.

On the other side, Florida Atlantic exceeded expectations with their defense that kept them in the game until the end, forcing a lot of turnovers with interceptions and fumbles, even stops on fourth down.

Here are some takeaways for both teams following the tightly contested matchup:

Florida Atlantic Takeaways

Offense

The Owls have their work cut out for them when it comes to the offense, especially quarterback Cam Fancher and the offensive line.

It was never going to be easy for Florida Atlantic to have an edge against a higher-quality defense like Michigan State's. However, for Fancher to throw two interceptions and the offensive line to concede seven sacks prevented the Owls from having a possible lead in the game.

Fancher, who had two of his first three passes picked off, progressed as the game went on (finished 12-for-25) but showed that there is some refining around the edges that needs to be done regarding his decision making.

When he moves out of the pocket and chooses passing to a receiver or run the ball himself, he needs to commit to one option and that one only. He cannot afford to be undecisive, leaving him exposed to defenders for long periods of time; otherwise, results like what happened against Michigan State will be more frequent.

The running backs and wide receivers did not have a significant impact due to missing passes from Fancher or being stopped by the Spartans' front seven, but the few moments they had stood out.

Fancher, despite his passing inconsistencies, put his mobility to work as he ran for 67 yards, while Zuberi Mobley and CJ Campbell combined for 65 yards. As for the receivers, Omari Hayes had a solid night with five catches for 74 yards and Jayshon Platt received FAU's lone touchdown.

If they can work out the kinks before next week against Army, there may be a promising dynamic brewing in the Owls' offense.

Defense

If anyone who supports FAU had concerns about the defense heading into this season, that surely dissipated with how the front seven defended against Michigan State's attack.

That much was seen in the very first play of the game when Maine transfer Kahzir "Buggs" Brown picked off Aidan Chiles' first throw, giving a promising sign to FAU.

More instances appeared when they created two fumbles, with one being recovered by co-captain Jayden Williams. Then another interception occurred when Indiana transfer Phillip Dunnam, also the nephew of Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem, picked off one of Chiles' throws to return for 58 yards.

That interception gave FAU the chance to finally score their only touchdown of the night. Even though it was on fourth down, the Owls got the score they needed to bring the deficit down to single-digits, and it was thanks to Dunnam that they had the opportunity.

And major props to Jackson Ambush for getting as many stops as possible. He was FAU's undisputed leader in tackles with 10, showing that his experience as one of the best defenders will prove wonders to a defense that has the potential to wreak havoc in the American Athletic Conference.

Michigan State Takeaways

Offense

Michigan State's offense struggled with consistency against Florida Atlantic, largely due to a lackluster performance by the offensive line and an inexperienced Aidan Chiles at quarterback.

Chiles, a true sophomore making his first career start, showed glimpses of his talent but finished 10-of-24 for 114 yards, with one rushing touchdown and two interceptions.

The offensive line failed to create reliable running lanes, as evidenced by frequent stops in the backfield and a crucial fourth-and-1 failure late in the game.

Despite this, running back Kay'ron Lynch-Adams was a standout, breaking free for a 63-yard touchdown run, thanks to excellent blocking by center Tanner Miller.

However, outside of that play, Michigan State's ground game was mostly stifled, rushing for just 86 yards on 28 carries, highlighting a pressing need for offensive growth.

Defense

The Spartans' defense was the key to its 16-10 victory, showcasing disciplined play and resilience.

The defensive front, led by Kris Bogle, D'Quan Douse, and Anthony Jones, was particularly dominant, combining for seven sacks, 10 tackles or loss, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.

Bogle was consistently disruptive in the backfield, while Douse's safety early in the game set the tone for a strong defensive showing.

Linebacker Jordan Hall also played a pivotal role, contributing effectively on third downs and maintaining a presence around the ball.

Despite some aggressive penalties and a few lapses in coverage, the defense remained solid overall, ensuring that Florida Atlantic's offense was kept in check throughout the game.

What's Next For Both Teams

The Owls will return home to Boca Raton in the Sunshine State as they host new AAC opponent Army on Sept. 7 at noon ET.

As for Michigan State, they will go on the road as they face the Maryland Terrapins on Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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