EAST LANSING >> Redshirt freshman Aziah Johnson scored his first career touchdown, Nate Carter had a 60-yard touchdown run, and Charles Brantley went end zone-to-end zone, with some change to spare, for Michigan State’s first 100-yard pick-6.

Then, the second half started.

The Spartans had faced various forms of adversity in each of their first two games of the season, but that wasn’t at all the case in Saturday’s 40-0 blowout of Prairie View A&M at Spartan Stadium.

Michigan State’s offense overpowered the Panthers’ best efforts, and its defense reciprocated such dominance — as it should — against the Football Championship Subdivision school. The Spartans are now 9-0 all-time against FCS programs.

The Panthers’ lone scoring attempt came early in the second quarter when kicker Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez lined up for a 37-yard field goal attempt that ultimately doinked off the right post.

It’s Michigan State’s first shutout since the Spartans beat Akron 52-0 on Sept. 10 in 2022.

Michigan State outgained Prairie View A&M 458-150. The Spartans also went 5-for-5 in the red zone and 8-for-11 on third downs.

Saturday brought few hardships for the Spartans, but a whole lot of highlights.

Johnson broke three tackles before crossing the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown reception that gave the Spartans a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Carter had yet to reach 60 yards on the ground in a game this season. Against Prairie View A&M, he rushed for 91 yards on eight carries. His 60-yard touchdown in the second quarter was a career-long rush.

After flying under the radar throughout the offseason, Brantley had yet another impressive game as he grabbed an interception for the second straight week.

Angelo Grose’s penalty for roughing the passer may have negated Brantley’s first interception returned for a touchdown against the Panthers. But Brantley got another chance to score later in the second when he arguably made the play of the game. Brantley picked off Cameron Peters in the end zone and dodged several Panthers before running the length of the field for a touchdown. An official review confirmed Brantley’s 100-yard pick-6, which made him the first Spartan to ever accomplish such a feat.

Michigan State’s defense has scored points in two of its first three games.

In his third career start, Aidan Chiles put up a solid performance as he went 12-for-19 for 173 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Chiles also ran in for a 6-yard score on the Spartans’ opening drive. The sophomore, who celebrated his 19th birthday this week, checked out of the game with about 3:30 left in the third quarter and was replaced by backup Tommy Schuster.

The win did come at a cost. In the third quarter, right guard Gavin Broscious went down with an apparent left leg injury. Before he was carted off the field, the team gathered around him to offer support. He didn’t return to the game.

Penalties are all still a problem the Spartans will have to work on limiting moving forward. For the third straight game, Michigan State, one of the nation’s highest penalized teams, eclipsed double-digit flags, finishing with 11 penalties for 88 yards.

Michigan State had never played a Historically Black Colleges and Universities team before Saturday. The Spartans are now 3-0 and 1-0 in the Big Ten in their first season under Jonathan Smith, while Prairie View A&M dropped to 1-2.

Michigan State is scheduled to close out its nonconference schedule next week at Boston College, who was ranked No. 24 before falling, 27-21, to No. 6 Missouri Saturday.