WATCH: MSU's Jonathan Smith Reflects on WMU, Previews BC

Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith addressed the media on Monday, reflecting on his team's season-opening win against Western Michigan while looking ahead to Boston College.
Jonathan Smith
Jonathan Smith | Aidan Champion, Michigan State Spartans On SI

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State is 1-0 following its 23-6 victory over Western Michigan on Friday and will now look to build on that win against a familiar opponent, Boston College.

The Spartans will host the Eagles on Saturday night, looking to avenge their loss in Chestnut Hill last season and get out to a 2-0 start.

There are certainly some areas Michigan State will need to clean up, and what it learned from that Western Michigan game should be showcased on Saturday.

Spartans coach Jonathan Smith addressed the media on Monday, reflecting on Friday's win while looking ahead to Boston College.

You can watch below:

Below is a partial transcript of Smith's presser:

Jonathan Smith

Q: How much do you want to put on tape and not put on tape when it comes to the non-conference schedule?

Smith: "We don't put a ton of stock into it, to be honest with you. We're trying to play as well as we can. And to me, if you can do that, what you practiced in training camp, getting ready for, that's what you're putting on display in the first few weeks.

"Now, each week, you're playing a different opponent, there's some schematics that go into that, strategy of new schemes or we're showing some different looks. But there's not a ton of -- especially, offensively, defensively, like, 'Hey, we're not going to call it this week so that we can use it next week.' There's a little bit of that, but not much."

Q: What did you learn from last year's loss to Boston College that you can use on Saturday?

Smith: "You got to play for four quarters. These games are won in the fourth quarter. It came down to that, execution at the end of the game. That particular one, yes, but there's multiple other ones throughout the season when we had opportunities to finish the thing (in) different ways -- offense, defense, special teams even.

"That particular one, both sides. We could have got a stop last year but didn't do it. Had the ball at the end of the game, couldn't finish it And so, yeah, that's a learning lesson that happens multiple times, but I knew we'll be watching some of that tape because of the continuity staff-wise, schematics. We'll be watching some of that."

MSU football
Michigan State football players get ready to run out on the field for their game against Western Michigan (Aug. 29, 2025). | Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans On SI

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