After winning its first two games, Michigan State was ranked #18 in the AP Poll. However, in their third game they fell 10–7 at home to Arizona State. The Spartans had appeared to tie the game with a last-second field goal, but they were penalized for having 12 players on the field and forced to attempt the field goal again from five yards further, which they missed. The following week, MSU defeated Northwestern 31–10 to open its B1G schedule. This gave Dantonio his 110th win as Spartans head coach, surpassing Duffy Daugherty for the most football wins in school history.