As a head coach, game-planning for a team that hasn't yet named its starting quarterback is not an easy task. So for Michigan State football, the first game of the season can be tough because there's a good chance that unless there's a returning starter, the QB1 isn't named until well into fall camp.
That goes for all of non-conference play. You obviously game-plan for what's in front of you, but it's good to have a scouting report for all of your non-conference opponents ahead of time.
So with Thomas Castellanos no longer under center at Boston College, that Week 2 matchup in East Lansing had some question marks.