Senior starting long snapper Chris Roberson was among four players suspended for the season opener, Boise State announced before the game.

Roberson, No. 3 quarterback Jimmy Laughrea and reserve wide receiver Dallas Burroughs served one-game suspensions for unspecified team-rules violations.

Redshirt freshman Jay Ajayi, a backup tailback, missed the game as a result of his suspension for the MAACO Bowl, a game he wouldn’t have played in anyway. Ajayi pleaded guilty to misdemeanor petit theft in December. He can return for the next game.

Walk-on transfer Kevin Keane of Ohio Wesleyan snapped for the Broncos. He’s a sophomore. Roberson has started for three seasons.

TRUE FRESHMEN DEBUTS

Boise State planned to use four true freshmen — wide receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes, tailback Jack Fields, linebacker Tyler Gray and tight end Hayden Plinke — and all got into the game.

Gray played on the kickoff-return unit to begin the game.

Williams-Rhodes got his first touch in the first quarter. He gained 13 yards on a reverse, putting the Broncos inside the Michigan State 10-yard line and setting up a field goal.

Fields was the only tailback other than starter D.J. Harper to get a carry. He rushed for 2 yards early in the second quarter.

Six other true freshmen made the trip — quarterback Nick Patti, cornerback Chaz Anderson, punter Sean Wale, safety Chanceller James, cornerback Donte Deayon and defensive lineman Armand Nance.

GAVINS SHARES TIME

Boise State senior cornerback Jerrell Gavins, who was limited during fall camp as he rebounds from last year’s knee injury, split time with sophomore Bryan Douglas on Friday. Douglas got the start.

Gavins missed the final 10 games last season after getting hurt in practice.

“Bryan has done a good job,” coach Chris Petersen said. “I don’t think he missed a practice. Jerrell’s been off and on. Bryan is getting better. … We’re going to need other guys.”

Senior cornerback Jamar Taylor (cramps) and sophomore safety Jeremy Ioane (illness) missed time in the second half.

BELL TOLLS OFTEN

Michigan State tailback Le’Veon Bell was nearly a one-man offense for the Spartans. He carried the ball 22 times for 108 yards and a touchdown in the first half alone, plus led the team with four catches for 24 yards. He touched the ball on 26 of the Spartans’ 46 first-half plays.

He finished with 44 carries for 210 yards and two scores. He also made six catches for 55 yards — for a total of 50 touches.

HARPER STALLED

Boise State’s running game didn’t provide any spark. Senior tailback D.J. Harper often was hit before he could get to the line of scrimmage and sometimes before he could even take a step.

Harper carried nine times for 12 yards in the first half and finished with 15 carries for 8 yards. His longest run: 4 yards.

As a team, the Broncos rushed for 37 yards.

“I was proud of D.J.,” Petersen said. “He hammered it up in there and didn’t have a lot of help.”

QUICK HITS

The Broncos wore orange pants, white jerseys and blue Pro Combat helmets. … The Broncos’ single-game captains were Taylor, left guard Joe Kellogg, linebacker Tommy Smith and Harper, all seniors. … Michigan State won the coin toss and deferred. … Smith led the Broncos with 12 tackles. Senior defensive tackle Mike Atkinson added 10. … Michigan State ran 90 plays to Boise State’s 56. The Spartans outgained the Broncos 461-206.

Chadd Cripe 377-6398, Brian Murphy 377-6444