After falling far in need of expectations in 2025, the San Jose State soccer program can have a really totally different look subsequent fall.
The Spartans, picked to complete third within the Mountain West preseason media ballot, went 3-9 and completed in a three-way tie for ninth place, ending forward of solely Colorado State.
San Jose State’s unprecedented run of three straight bowl appearances was snapped, and head coach Ken Niumatalolo, who simply accomplished his second season with the Spartans, can have a vastly different-looking employees and roster in 2026.
On the sector, the Spartans can have a brand new quarterback to succeed senior Walker Eget, the protection will lose two-time all-conference linebacker Jordan Pollard, and star receiver Danny Scudero may think about one other journey to the switch portal. The Spartans are also anticipated to signal a brand new kicker.
San Jose State’s head coach Ken Niumatalolo speaks to the workforce on the sector throughout a sport in opposition to Idaho within the first quarter at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
Niumatalolo’s teaching employees is present process an overhaul. Derrick Odum, the longest tenured defensive coordinator in program historical past, and particular groups coordinator Joe Palcic have been fired with two video games remaining. Offensive line coach John Estes and cornerbacks coach Greg Burns have been let go after the season-ending loss to Fresno State.
“None of us liked how we finished,” Niumatalolo stated. “It’s just my job to make sure I get this right and we feel good about some of the guys we are talking to.”
San Jose State completed the season final within the Mountain West in scoring protection (32 factors allowed per sport) and ninth in complete passing protection (245.25 yards allowed per sport).
After Odum was let go, inside linebackers coach Bojay Filimoeatu took over because the interim defensive coordinator for the video games in opposition to Fresno State and San Diego State.
The Spartans held SDSU to 248 complete yards and 25 factors. Nevertheless, the protection allowed 397 yards and 41 factors in opposition to Fresno State in a sport that additionally noticed the Spartans flip the ball over 5 occasions.
Niumatalolo stated Filimoeatu had carried out sufficient to not less than put his title into consideration for the total time job.
“Against two tough teams these past two weeks as a first time coordinator, I’ve been impressed with them schematically and with the ability to get our guys to play,” Niumatalolo stated. “It’s very evident they play hard for Bojay.”
Niumatalolo famous he has had many inquiries concerning the place from exterior the constructing.
PORTAL POWER
One of many greatest success tales this season was Scudero, who transferred to his hometown Spartans from Sacramento State and leads the FBS with 1,291 receiving yards on 88 receptions and had ten landing receptions.
The problem now for San Jose State is to not lose Scudero as soon as the switch portal opens for FBS gamers on Jan. 2.
“There’s a lot of people after him,” Niumatalolo stated.
Niumatalolo hopes Scudero, an Archbishop Mitty Excessive graduate, will see his breakthrough season as a cause to remain.
San Jose State’s Danny Scudero (10) catches the ball in opposition to Hawaii’s Elijah Palmer (4) throughout the second quarter at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
“That was our sell last year to him at this time because we had Nick Nash. We told him ‘come here and that’s you,’” Niumatalolo stated. “The one good thing this year is at least we can tell him we were true to our word.”
Niumatalolo concedes that if a Energy 4 faculty has its sights set on Scudero, SJSU doesn’t have the assets to compete in a bidding battle.
“When people throw out the numbers that they do, it’s staggering,” Niumatalolo stated. “It won’t be comparable, but I hope we can put together a good enough package to at least make him think.”
Most Energy 4 colleges begin with a minimal recruiting price range of round $20 million, an quantity Group of Six colleges akin to San Jose State can’t muster up.
“Obviously we’re not even close to that,” Niumatalolo stated. “We’ll try our best to get as much money to (recruit) as we can.”
It was estimated that Group of Six groups will common round $3 million in income sharing within the 2025-26 tutorial calendar yr in response to NIL-NCAA.com.
WHO’S AT QB
With Eget out of eligibility, Niumatalolo has recognized three quarterbacks to be within the combine to compete for the beginning job subsequent yr.
Tama Amisone and Robert McDaniel made appearances this season as true freshmen, and Daniel Rolovich, son of Cal interim head coach Nick Rolovich, is a part of the Spartans’ recruiting class. One other candidate may arrive through the switch portal.
“It’s definitely on the table if we are able to find an older guy in the portal,” Niumatalolo stated.
San Jose State’s Tama Amisone (8) runs with the ball in opposition to Idaho’s Matt Irwin (28) within the first quarter at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
Amisone threw for 205 yards, three interceptions and nil touchdowns throughout 50 passing makes an attempt. As a dual-threat quarterback who was utilized in design run packages early within the season, Amisone rushed for 160 yards on 35 makes an attempt and scored his solely profession landing on the bottom.
McDaniel, who solely accomplished three passes in 2025 in restricted taking part in time, was one of many final guys to affix the workforce, arriving as a spring camp switch from UCLA.
“It’s unfair to judge him based on what happened last year because he didn’t get as many reps as everybody else during the season,” Niumatalolo stated. “He won’t have that excuse this next season.”
QUICK KICK
After San Jose State missed 11 of its 23 subject purpose makes an attempt, Niumatalolo stated getting a kicker within the switch portal is without doubt one of the workforce’s prime priorities this offseason.
“I’ll be honest, last year I made a mistake and just offered (kickers) scholarships,” Niumatalolo stated. “We have to do a better job of offering people some revenue sharing like everyone else does, especially in that position.”
Senior Denis Lynch, who transferred from USC, was 8-for-16 on subject purpose makes an attempt, together with lacking two underneath 30-yard subject targets in a 30-29 loss to Stanford and a possible sport successful 33-yard subject purpose in a 16-14 loss to Central Michigan.
“As bad as it’s been at the back end of the season, if we kick three field goals we’re 6-6,” Niumatalolo stated after the 41-14 loss within the season finale to Fresno State. “If we kick three field goals we are going to a bowl game. That’s kind of crazy to think but it’s really the truth.”
NEW-LOOK AHEAD
A protracted offseason of preparation awaits for the Spartans, and after they return to the sector it’ll be in a new-look Mountain West.
Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Utah State are all leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-12 subsequent season.
UTEP and Northern Illinois (soccer solely) are becoming a member of the convention, which can have 9 groups for the 2026 season.
San Jose State’s full 2026 schedule has not been launched, however consists of 4 non-conference video games: Sept. 5 at Jap Michigan and residential video games Sept. 12 vs. Cal Poly, Sept. 19 vs. Fresno St and Nov. 28 vs. Stanford.
