Western Michigan Broncos at Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State beats Western Michigan 23-6, Makhi Frazier runs for 103 yards and a touchdown

“The O-line really opened the holes and created everything,” Frazier said.

The Spartans (1-0) led by three touchdowns at halftime after Frazier and Brandon Tullis scored and Aidan Chiles threw a touchdown pass before they were shut out offensively in the second half.

“We didn’t do our jobs,” Chiles said. “We got the win, so I can’t really be mad, but we got to do better.”

The Broncos (0-1) turned it over on downs in Michigan State territory twice and missed a 46-yard field goal. At other end of the field, running back Jalen Buckley was stopped in the end zone to give Michigan State a 23-0 lead in the third quarter.

“One of the things that I was most proud of is we played for 60 minutes,” Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor said. “They fought for 60 minutes. They never gave up. I challenged them at halftime. We were down 21-0. It’s easy to look at the scoreboard and feel some type of way and really come out with no energy.”

Seventh-year safety Tate Hallock, who started his college career at Michigan State in 2019, picked off backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic and returned the interception 32 yards for a touchdown late.

“How else would you rather go out in the last play in Spartan Stadium for me?” Hallock asked. "Spent four years here, the best four years my life, to be honest with you.

“I just love this place so much, and I bleed green no matter what.”

Chiles was 17 of 23 for 155 yards with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Nick Marsh and a fumble. He connected seven times for 75 yards with Omari Kelly, who previously played at Middle Tennessee State and Auburn.

“It feels good to have opportunities to showcase what I can do,” Kelly said.

Tullis had 52 yards rushing on seven carries and a touchdown.

Western Michigan's Brady Jones was 11 of 23 for 97 yards with an interception and Broc Lowry was 5 of 10 for 91 yards.

Buckley, who ran for 1,686 yards over the last two seasons, was held to 21 yards rushing on nine carries.

“This is a good starting point for our defense, not allowing any points,” Michigan State linebacker Jordan Hall said. “There’s still a lot of mistakes that happened and a lot of ways we can improve.”

The takeaway Western Michigan: The quarterback competition may continue because Jones, a junior college transfer, and Lowry, a backup last year after transferring from Indiana, did not make the most of their opportunities.

Michigan State: Frazier and Tullis, who combined to run for 41 yards as freshmen last season, and an offensive line that opened some holes for coach Jonathan Smith in his second season.

“We set the tone with our run game,” Smith said.

Up next Western Michigan hosts North Texas on Sept. 6.

Michigan State hosts Boston College on Sept. 7.