SAN JOSE – Now that San Jose State has to win its closing three video games simply to change into bowl eligible, a matchup towards the final place Nevada Wolfpack would appear to be simply what the Spartans want.
However they’ll need to do one thing they haven’t been in a position to do in 25 years.
Saturday afternoon’s recreation is in Reno, the place the Spartans have solely gained as soon as within the historical past of this system. They’ve misplaced 10 straight within the foothills of Sierra Nevada since Jarmar Julien scored three speeding touchdowns within the closing eight minutes to seal the Spartans’ 49-30 win in 2000.
San Jose State (3-6, 2-3 Mountain West) additionally has but to win on the highway this season and is coming off a irritating house loss to Air Pressure.
“It’s not like we’re Ohio State, we’re struggling ourselves,” San Jose State coach Ken Niumatalolo stated. “We just need to focus on ourselves. They’ve been in a lot of close games and had opportunities to win, just like us.”
San Jose State head coach Ken Niumatalolo stands on the sideline whereas enjoying Air Pressure within the fourth quarter of their recreation at San Jose State College in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. Air Pressure defeated San Jose State 26-16. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
The Spartans have let fourth quarter leads slip away in three of their losses. However within the 26-16 loss to Air Pressure it was the offense that struggled to maintain the Spartans within the contest and helped ship them to their third loss previously 4 video games.
The Spartans, who lead the FBS in passing yards per recreation (332.6), had three turnovers and allowed a security. In the meantime, the No. 8 ranked protection within the Mountain West (419.56 yards per recreation) restricted the convention’s third-ranked scoring offense to seven factors under its season common.
Coming into the Air Pressure recreation, Eget had not thrown an interception since Sept. 7 when SJSU took on Texas. Towards the Falcons, Eget threw two picks. FBS main receiver Danny Scudero (1,126 yards) was held to simply 41 yards receiving and didn’t discover the top zone within the loss.
“It never felt in the game that the defense was stopping us,” offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann stated. “We stopped ourselves.”
Up subsequent is Nevada (1-8, 0-5 MW), which has performed among the prime groups within the Mountain West shut, together with a 20-17 loss to Fresno State and a 24-22 loss to New Mexico.
Wolfpack defensive lineman Dylan Labarbera is second within the Mountain West in sacks with 6.5. SJSU struggled to offer Eget time to throw the ball towards Air Pressure, which resulted in a number of stress on Eget and balls batted on the line.
Air Pressure’s Levi Brown (9) intercepts a move thrown by San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget (5) within the second quarter of their recreation at San Jose State College in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Within the Spartans three wins they’ve a plus 4 turnover margin and of their six losses they’ve a minus eight turnover margin.
Niumatalolo desires to emphasise the group getting off to a quick begin towards the Wolfpack. The Spartans protection achieved this final week towards the Falcons forcing them to go three and out on their first two drives, however the offense was not in a position to match because the Spartans settled for a area objective and misplaced a fumble on their first two drives.
“Starting fast is our mantra every week,” Niumatalolo stated. “Our offense came out fast against Hawaii but our players are human. It’s not like you can press a button and they will come out fast.”
The Spartans protection had one in all their stronger showings of the season limiting the Falcons offense to 302 yards of whole offense. Air Pressure is averaging 438 yards whole yards of offense this season.
The Spartans, who’ve struggled in move protection this season, didn’t get examined an excessive amount of towards an Air Pressure offense that’s an possibility heavy and had 63 passing makes an attempt in comparison with simply 10 speeding makes an attempt.
This week towards Nevada, SJSU faces off towards the worst passing offense within the Mountain West. Nevada ranks final within the Mountain West in passing yards per recreation (153.67), final in whole passing touchdowns (7), whereas having essentially the most interceptions thrown (17).
The Wolfpack began the 12 months with Chubba Purdy, brother of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, earlier than giving the keys to the offense to true freshman quarterback Carter Jones after Purdy struggled.
Carter has thrown for 661 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Air Pressure quarterback Liam Szarka (9) runs for a one-yard landing towards San Jose State within the second quarter of their recreation at San Jose State College in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
The Spartans protection ranks eleventh in passing yards allowed (281 yards per recreation) and defensive coordinator Derrick Odum hopes that the protection can construct upon one in all its higher outings of the 2025 season.
“There have been some moments that we would have liked to get better at, that’s just football,” Odum stated. “There’s been no pointing fingers. They’re a close knit group and always looking to improve every week.”
Nevada’s protection ranks across the center of the pack in each speeding protection (152.89 yards allowed per recreation, sixth within the MW) and passing protection (230.67 yards allowed per recreation, seventh within the MW).
The Spartans offense hopes to get again on monitor after a tough outing towards Air Pressure. Their broad receiving core sees Scudero paired with Kyri Shoels (680 receiving yards, fourth in MW) and Leland Smith (643 receiving yards, sixth in MW), making some of the dynamic receiving rooms in the complete nation.
Eget can also be first in all of FBS with 2,941 passing yards.
Whereas the passing offense has at all times excelled, the Spartans offense has seen a lift since freshman operating again Steve Chavez-Soto has emerged as part of a dual-headed backfield with Lamar Radcliffe.
Chavez-Soto acquired vital enjoying time throughout SJSU’s win towards New Mexico on Oct. 3. The week prior he was on scout group, solely getting enjoying time as a result of Floyd Chalk IV redshirted, Jabari Bates acquired injured the week prior and Viliami Teu acquired injured on his first carry towards New Mexico.
Since getting his shot, Chavez-Soto has 300 yards speeding, seven touchdowns and is averaging 5.7 yards per carry in 5 video games performed.
“He approached everything like he’s the starter from day one,” operating backs coach Michael Smith stated. “That builds confidence in not only me, but the whole coaching staff.”
With bowl eligibility on the road, SJSU can’t overlook any opponent over its subsequent three video games.
“We recognize it’s a hard place to win,” Niumatalolo stated. “We’re looking forward to this challenge.”
