Date/Time: Saturday, November 15, 2025 – 12:30 PM PDT
Location: MacKay Stadium, Reno, NV
Broadcast: CBS Sports
Radio: 860 KTRB AM (SF Bay Area)
Head-to-Head: Nevada leads the series 23-2-12
Spread: SJSU -9.5
favorites, O/U 52.5
The last time San Jose State (3-6, 2-3 MW) defeated Nevada (1-8, 0-5 MW) in Reno was October 21, 2000. It was a 49-30 win marked by then Spartan running backs Deonce Whitaker and Jamar Julien who ran for 167 yards and 110 yards, respectively.
The Spartans grossed over 300 yards rushing that day 25 years ago (details the late, great SJSU sports information director Lawrence Fan would have on the frontal lobe) and this year the Spartans have an eerily similar duo.
Spartan head coach Ken Niumatalolo was a 35-year-old tight-end and special teams coach at UNLV in 2000.
“All I know is we haven’t won up there in a long time,” said Niumatalolo. “We recognize it’s a hard place to play and to win. They’re also very similar to us with a lot of close losses and have had a tough season like us.”
Whether it’s their cold, dry fall October weather or maybe the curse of the once “divorce capitol of the world” in the Biggest Little City in the World, records and stats won’t matter and don’t matter this far in the season, especially with these two teams.
Basically, who’s hungrier?
“People can look at their record, but we just have to focus on ourselves,” said Niumatalolo. “We have to make sure we play better and harder. That’s it.”
Where Niumatalolo was disappointed how the offense played last week against Air Force and generally happy with the defensive performance, it’s been a season where each group can sway off center on any given game and not consistently be in sync altogether.
“Regardless, everyday we work to improve whatever we’re deficient in and keep praising the things we’re doing well,” said DC Derrick Odum. “Last week we were really pleased how they performed overall in tough situations.”
In the spirit of worrying only about yourself, San Jose State clearly still has hope and each other, despite the finicky masses calling for the curtain drop.
“I’ve been impressed with the fortitude of our guys, especially with these tough losses,” said Niumatalolo on the question of team spirit and morale.
On offense, QB 1 is banged up. Whether it’s a shoulder, leg or knee, Walker Eget is flat-out tough and would never elude to it being a hindrance. Case-in-point, Eget still threw for well over 300 yards last week after a temporary leg injury of the nicked-up kind.
“It’s one of those things where you never want to see your starting quarterback get hurt,” said OC Craig Stutzmann. “We’ve got to find ways to keep him healthy and hopefully, he can finish out the season for us.”
The chances are likely very high Eget will, by pure fortitude, finish the season and hopefully, more likely still be the top passer in the conference and the nation, as he is now.
As injuries are the obvious part of football; adjustments, roster depth and coaching are also all equal premiums in the scope of it all. Collectively, it is where the true magic lies in any program in any sport.
“At this point, it’s obviously one of those things where we want anyone who goes into the game to do a good job,” said Stutzmann. “It’s all difficult but at the same time, it’s coaching and it’s about getting the guys ready to play.”
Injures to the offensive line seem lesser a worry than most in what anchors an offense.
“On the line, it’s been one of those years where Daniel Moleni was out after week two, then Nate Hale this past game and trying to find some continuity and consistency with those guys makes it difficult, of course,” said Stutzmann. “But at the same time, we don’t do a ton upfront with a couple of pass protections and five run play types with different variations.”
Perhaps part of Stutzmann’s confidence stems from having an all-star group of receivers that are thriving in an offense that is somehow still leaving much on the table (a -4 turnover margin doesn’t help). Along with Eget, receiver Danny Scudero is the top receiver in the conference and the country.
All said, it’s likely the absolute main reason coaches crave steadiness and stability across the board.
“We just have to be more consistent and really just play harder”.
On defense, the old adage goes, “it all starts up front.”
Though the defensive front-seven is athletic and disruptive, they are not a dominant, trench-control unit, which isn’t the end of the world and actually, more typical.
With opponents averaging over six yards per play, it may also indicate that the front isn’t consistently winning at the line of scrimmage; or consistently doing enough blocker occupation for linebackers to operate.
It’s maybe more a simplistic diagnosis of an unsung group’s sacrifices given the attention often goes elsewhere.
It is a Spartan defense more known to having a heat-seeking missile in linebacker Jordan Pollard, who’s among the top-10 tacklers in the conference. Senior LBs Taniela Latu, Noah McNeal-Franklin and safety Jalen Apalit-Williams are also among the top conference tacklers along with freshman cornerback Jaylen Thomas.
Overall, it’s been a defense that’s lacked enough of an identity, where in recent years, the SJS defense was an interception machine or a turnover maker or run stoppers.
All said, statistically it is a middle-0f-the-road defense, but all-in-all, it a also still a very workable defense.
“Within their initial assignments, you’re supposed to be where you’re supposed to be,” said Odum. “But inside your assignment, you go play football and you let your natural instincts and athleticism go from there.”
At this point, it’s perhaps the latter that needs to be seen more now than ever.
