3 reasons we shouldn't panic about Michigan State football's lackluster Week 1

Week 1 is in the books and Michigan State football fans are hovering over the panic button for that sloppy 16-10 win over FAU which probably should have been something like 33-10, at worst.

The Spartans were up 16-3 for a couple of quarters, but a second-half touchdown by FAU and some shaky offensive play led to a way-too-close effort. Michigan State was clearly the better team, but it didn't quite play like it.

Now Michigan State will open Big Ten play in Week 2 against a tough Maryland team that beat UConn down in the opener.

There is some panic in the air about this team and what it might be capable of, but I'm here to say that we shouldn't panic just yet and here's why.

3. First-game jitters

I know this seems like a copout, but you have to realize that first-game jitters are a real thing, especially for a new head coach in a new program with a brand-new starting quarterback. First-game jitters are bound to happen when the entire script has been flipped and everyone is starting fresh.

Aidan Chiles had never started a game at quarterback before, Jonathan Smith had never coached a game in East Lansing yet, and the offensive and defensive sides of the ball were probably pressing a bit.

This isn't even a phenomenon strictly for new coaches at Michigan State, it happens in first games of the season all the time. You can even go back to the Mark Dantonio era to see first games are rarely pretty.

2. The defense was impressive

While FAU wasn't exactly an offensive powerhouse, Michigan State's defense looked worlds better than it did a season ago. It feels like the Joe Rossi effect might be real.

The secondary was locking down receivers and FAU's late-sliding king Cam Fancher had no time to throw, the defensive line was getting pressure, and the linebackers were all over the field. The defense looked gelled more in Week 1 this year than it did at any point in 2023.

I'll take this as a major positive.

1. This team is still learning each other

The offensive line is still gelling and trying to create lanes for guys like Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams and Nate Carter, they're still trying to get the chemistry down with Aidan Chiles, and the quarterback is still trying to get on the same page as his receivers. That offensive chemistry is just not there yet, but it will be and it can only grow from Week 1.

Defensively, there seemed to be more cohesiveness, but there were still some lapses in communication and schematically. They're going to continue to learn each other.

And the coaches are still getting familiar with the players. Everyone is brand-new in terms of coaches and getting that chemistry down and learning the team isn't an easy task.

This was game one of a new era and there's really nowhere to go but up.