EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Mel Tucker’s third season will start with Friday Night Lights on September 2 when the Spartans host Western Michigan in Spartan Stadium at 7:00 p.m. It will be the 17th meeting between the two programs as MSU has won 14 of them.

“This game has probably been circled on their calendar for quite some time,” says Tucker. “They are going to better than what we have seen on tape. Their belief factor is through the roof right now. Their coaches have them ready, prepared, and believing that they can come in here and beat us. So that is what we are preparing for. That’s why we have to stay focused on what needs to be done today and not thinking about next week.”

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Western Michigan will be no slouch of an opener after going 8-5 in 2021 and winning the Quick Lane Bowl, 52-24, over Nevada. They finished 4-4 in the MAC and had the 34th scoring offense in the nation at 28.2 points per game. Their offense also averaged 466.4 yards per game for 12th in the NCAA.

The two teams last met in 2019 when MSU won, 51-17, as the Spartans are 85-37-3 all-time in season openers. Friday night will be the 126th season of MSU football as the game will be televised on ESPN. This will be the 10th home opener on a Friday night since 2011 as they are 9-0 overall and 7-0 in Spartan Stadium.

MSU has a lot to build off of after last year’s 11-win season and Peach Bowl victory. With 44 letter winners back from last season, there are 26 position players returning with 13 on offense and defense.

An interesting twist to the game will be in the Thorne family. Payton Thorne is the starting quarterback for MSU while his father, Jeff, is in his first year as the offensive coordinator for Western Michigan. Tucker said, “I talked to Payton this morning and seemed fine about playing against his dad.”

MSU kicks off at 7:00 p.m. in Spartan Stadium as the 2022 season starts.