East Lansing, MI (Sports Network) - Le'Veon Bell rushed for a pair of touchdowns, including the go-ahead score midway through the fourth quarter and No. 13 Michigan State held off No. 24 Boise State, 17-13, on Friday at Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans trailed by three for the entire second half, but a short punt from Trevor Harman early in the fourth gave Michigan State excellent field position at their own 44-yard line.
Andrew Maxwell then moved the Spartans down the field before hitting Dion Sims for 18 yards to put Michigan State inside the Boise State 10-yard line.
Bell then capped the 9-play, 56-yard drive, as he bounced around the right side for a five-yard touchdown scamper to give Michigan State a decisive advantage.
Bell finished with 210 yards on 44 carries and two scores, while also hauling in six passes for 55 yards for the Spartans (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten), who won for the 12th time in their last 14 season openers.
Maxwell struggled in his first start in place of Kirk Cousins, who was taken in the fourth-round of the 2012 NFL Draft after leading the Spartans to an 11-3 mark a season ago.
Maxwell completed 22-of-38 passes for 248 yards and three interceptions, while Sims finished with seven catches for 65 yards.
Boise State (0-1, 0-0 MWC) also had a first-timer under center, as Joe Southwick made his first career start after Kellen Moore finished his college career last season.
Southwick completed less than half of his passes, going 15-of-31 for 169 yards and an interception for Boise State, which had just six returning starters from a team that went 12-1 last season.
The Sports Network