The Jacksonville State Gamecocks visit the Michigan State Spartans on Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET. Listen to the live radio broadcast via the links provided below.
Michigan State, coming off a 13-1 season with Big Ten and Rose Bowl championships, opens their season Friday night against Jacksonville State. Along with it being a new season, the Spartans are fielding a new defense that includes six new starters.
Spartans coach Mark Dantonio made it a point to say he wanted to see how the new-look defense fares in their first game of the season.
"We had one of the top defenses in America last year with the rules as they are," Spartans coach Mark Dantonio told the Associated Press. "... We've got certain guys playing new positions. You basically want to see guys bend their knees and play in space and tackle and play the ball in the deep part of the field. There are certain things you can do schematically. Then, it comes down to making plays."
While Jacksonville State isn't a powerhouse football program, Dantonio insisted his team wouldn't come out complacent.
"It's a statement game," he said. "If you can't get excited about playing in Spartan Stadium the first game of your senior year, junior year, sophomore year or freshman year, maybe it just isn't happening for you. But if things don't go right for us, it won't be because we overlooked Jacksonville State."
Listen to the live radio broadcast HERE (MSU). JVST fans can find radio broadcast information HERE.
