EAST LANSING – The announcement of a laughably late-night kickoff time to open “Big Ten” season in Los Angeles left Michigan State football fans stupefied and frustrated.

Not Jonathan Smith.

He and his coaching staff already had been preparing to make the trip to USC on Saturday, Sept. 20 , long before the 11 p.m. start time was released last week. The Spartans will leave after Thursday morning’s practice to get to Southern California with an extra day built in to get players’ minds and bodies adjusted to Pacific Time.

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