EAST LANSING, Mich. — Le’Veon Bell took the handoff, his second of the season, moving fast enough to make everyone else look slow. He spotted a safety 7 yards away and ran purposefully toward him. Beyond the safety was space.

Michigan State had won 22 games in Bell’s first two seasons. The Spartans’ No. 13 preseason ranking this year, behind Michigan, was a mistake, he believed. This perceived disrespect was not new, and Michigan State’s response — having Bell meet it head on — was poetic: the formerly underappreciated running back propelling his perennially underappreciated team.

Now, in a prime-time season opener against Boise State, Bell eyed the safety. Later, he would say, “I wanted to make a signature play.” So Bell leapt, fully extending his front leg, so high his arms swung as if to prevent him from rising higher. At Bell’s peak, the diving safety was barely in the picture, foundering below.

Bell’s legs began to churn midair. He tripped and was tackled after 23 yards, but he popped up with swagger, his teammates mobbing him, his message delivered.