Michigan State narrowly defeated Florida Atlantic 16-10 in a game marked by turnovers and missed opportunities, making it a challenging debut for coach Jonathan Smith. The Spartans' defense made crucial stops to secure the win despite numerous offensive errors. In another game, San Jose State overcame a poor start to beat Sacramento State 42-24 in Ken Niumatalolo's first game as head coach. Emmett Brown threw three touchdown passes, and Nick Nash played a pivotal role with two touchdown catches and a touchdown pass. The Spartans' defense forced five turnovers in the second half to seal the victory. The game also saw a delay due to a serious injury to a Sacramento State player, who was eventually taken off the field conscious.