How to watch Jax State vs. Michigan State: Preview, TV schedule, odds, more

For Michigan State fans (and really any college football fans), the Spartans’ season might as well start on Sept. 6. That’s when Mark Dantonio takes his team to Eugene to face off against Oregon in what could be a preview of a College Football Playoff matchup.

But the Spartans do have a warmup contest beforehand, facing off against Jacksonville State on Friday, Aug. 29. And although this game is the one MSU fans just want to get over with, the Gamecocks are no slouch. They made the FCS quarterfinals last year and rank No. 8 in this year’s preseason FCS Coaches Poll.

Are the Spartans in for a bigger test than they expect? Or should they already be planning for Oregon? Let’s take a look.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

Radio: Spartan Sports Radio Network

Online streaming: BTN2Go

Rankings and records: Michigan State is ranked eighth in the preseason AP Poll, while Jacksonville State is ranked eighth in the preseason FCS Coaches Poll.

Vegas: There are no odds on this game.

Weather forecast: Partly cloudy and 76 degrees, with a chance of thunderstorms.

1. Taiwan Jones, LB, Michigan State: Jones is the only returning starting linebacker on Michigan State’s defense, and he’ll be the leader of the group in 2014 after taking somewhat of a back seat to Denicos Allen and Max Bullough last season. How will the MSU defense look in its first season without Allen and Bullough? Some of that will fall on the shoulders of Jones.

2. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State: It took a little while, but Cook finally became the quarterback Michigan State fans hoped he could be last year. There have been a few changes on the offensive line, but all of the receivers are back except for Bennie Fowler. That means the MSU offense could take off this year. Will Cook put on a show before the big game against Oregon?

3. DaMarcus James, RB, Jacksonville State: James set JSU’s single-season rushing record as a junior last year, finishing with 1,447 yards on 292 carries. He’s on the watch list for the Walter Payton Award (the FCS Heisman) this year, and according to AL.com, many people consider him to be a preseason All-American. If he picks up where he left off last year, he could give MSU a scare.

1. As it will be during most every game this season, a berth in the College Football Playoff is at stake for Michigan State. Slip up, and the Spartans will be out of contention for the playoffs. Moreover, it will help if they win this one comfortably, since they’ll need all the respect they can get being from the Big Ten.

2. While Michigan State should still have a top-notch defense in 2014, it probably won’t be quite as good as the Spartans’ defense was in 2013. The group will have a big learning curve, since Oregon is on the second week of the schedule and will be arguably the toughest offense MSU faces all year. Staying healthy and figuring out how the new pieces work with the defense will be paramount in this game.

Check out our Michigan State site, The Only Colors, for more coverage.