The Spartans finally get a true test of their strength Saturday at Notre Dame and liked how they set themselves up for it.
"Overall, it's a great win," said Dantonio, who was as pleased Saturday as he was displeased with his team's first outing. "Our next test is down at Notre Dame next week, we have to be fundamentally sound. We have to do things well down there and we have to build our identity.
"I don't think one game makes it, but I thought we took steps to it in that direction today."
About 5,000 fewer fans (70,249 to be exact) attended Saturday's game than the season-opening sellout, but the ones who did come got a much more satisfying view of things - including the playing surface, which featured a new Spartan head logo at midfield.
Florida Atlantic didn't convert a third down and got no big plays. The MSU pass rush got going with three sacks and frequent pressure.
The MSU rushing offense looked better with 188 yards and good moments from all four of its backs.
Cousins (16 of 21, 183 yards, two touchdowns) was sharp again, and this time he spread the ball around. Cunningham had another big day (five catches, 73 yards) but Keshawn Martin also came up big with seven catches for 72 yards - pushing him past 1,000 career receiving yards.
Sophomore tight end Dion Sims had a couple beastly moments, including a 1-yard touchdown on a perfectly placed fade from Cousins.
The kicking game had a better day with some Martin electricity and 3-of-4 field goal accuracy.
All of which allowed MSU to get the long look at its backups that it had hoped to get a week ago. Backup quarterback Andrew Maxwell led a field-goal drive in the second quarter and finished 6 of 9 for 63 yards.
The coaches got to tinker with reserves in other spots as well, and Dan France and Fou Fonoti split time at a left tackle position that may be drifting France's way with Notre Dame looming.
"Well, we want to go with the right guy, that's for sure," MSU offensive coordinator Dan Roushar said when asked if he wants to go with just one guy against the Irish. "I'm anxious to come in and look at the tape and evaluate how those two guys played over there. Dan had one offsides, but I thought he played with a lot more confidence. Just looking at him from where I was, I thought he was more sound fundamentally."
There remain things to be decided and improved before a trip to Notre Dame. But at least the Spartans looked good Saturday, got their first shutout since 2008 (also against Florida Atlantic) and got their emerging star senior wideout his record - with a touch of flair.
Running back Larry Caper was actually the first option on the play, but he was covered and Cousins looked to Cunningham. A linebacker was there, but Cunningham slipped past him - then tripped and started to fall.
Cousins saw that before he released the ball and tried to get it down. Cunningham did the rest, quite appropriately.
"That sort of set the tone, I thought, for the game," Dantonio said of a play that kept MSU alive to drive 51 yards for a touchdown.
"Not an easy catch but he's been known to make those catches all the time," Cousins said. "I think it's very fitting that he made the final catch that way. It's a testament to how good his hands are and I think it also is symbolic of his career, the way it's gone."
MSU 44, Florida Atlantic 0
Florida Atlantic 0 0 0 0-0
Michigan St. 14 13 7 10-44
• First quarter
MSU-Baker 9 run (Conroy kick), 10:43.
MSU-Bell 2 run (Conroy kick), 1:44.
• Second quarter
MSU-FG Conroy 50, 10:44.
MSU-FG Conroy 41, 3:43.
MSU-D.Sims 1 pass from Cousins (Conroy kick).
• Third quarter
MSU-Celek 8 pass from Cousins (Conroy kick), 2:42.
• Fourth quarter
MSU-FG Muma 28, 9:57.
MSU-Langford 37 fumble return (Conroy kick), 8:22.
A-70,249.
FAU MSU
First downs 1 27
Rushes-yards 20-22 51-188
Passing 26 246
Comp-Att-Int 6-13-0 22-32-0
Return Yards 0 40
Punts-Avg. 9-40.3 1-36.0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 3-0
Penalties-Yards 5-55 3-20
Time of Possession 17:34 42:26
Individual statistics
Rushing-FAU, Al.Morris 10-21, Stinson 2-15, Floyd 2-6, T.Moore 1-3, White 1-1, Wilbert 1-(minus 10), Kooi 3-(minus 14). Michigan St., Bell 14-69, Hill 14-56, Baker 9-50, Caper 9-27, Team 1-(minus 1), Lippett 1-(minus 3), Maxwell 2-(minus 4), Cousins 1-(minus 6).
Passing-FAU, Wilbert 4-10-0-15, Kooi 2-3-0-11. Michigan St., Cousins 16-21-0-183, Maxwell 6-9-0-63, Badovinac 0-1-0-0, Team 0-1-0-0.
Receiving-FAU, Richardson 2-16, Clark 1-3, Al.Morris 1-3, Dorvilus 1-2, Da.Williams 1-2. Michigan St., Martin 7-72, Cunningham 5-73, D.Sims 4-27, Ke.Nichol 2-40, Baker 1-9, Sonntag 1-9, Celek 1-8, Mumphery 1-8.