EAST LANSING — Looking ahead to next week’s game at Arizona State.

Three things to watch

Outside coverage

MSU struggled with crossing routes and other underneath passes against Utah State, allowing 319 passing yards on 29 completions despite not allowing a passing play over 28 yards and only three others of more than 20 yards. Arizona State’s passing game tends to stretch defenses more vertically and has two 6-foot-4 targets in Harry and Terrell Chatman, who will challenge cornerbacks Justin Layne and Josh Butler in a different way than the Aggies’ smaller receivers did.

Discipline check

MSU received nine penalty flags for 62 yards. Two of them came with the offense on the 1-yard line — a false start on Luke Campbell in the first quarter and an illegal formation call in the fourth — that stalled drives and turned potential touchdowns into field goals. One other flag, a personal foul call on Layne, who appeared to throw punches at a Utah State player, could have ramifications going into next week. Arizona State also was penalized 11 times for 95 yards in its opener against UTSA.

Tempe temperature

It’s never too early to check the weather, nor can you trust it in Michigan. In Arizona, it’s a little different — expect it to be hot all the time. The high is expected to be 105 degrees Saturday in Tempe, while the low is anticipated at 81 degrees. But, as they say, it’ll be a dry heat with only about 25 percent humidity with zero chance of rain.

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Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.