Information: San Jose State (0-0, 0-0 Mountain West); Sacramento State (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky)
Kick-off: 7 p.m., CEFCU Stadium, San Jose
TV: TruTV/Max
Radio: KDOW (1220 AM)
History of the Series: San Jose State leads the series 1-0 with the lone game that opened the 2013 season a 24-0 shutout win.
Stories: Ken Newstrong will appear in his first game as the head coach of San Jose State after being hired in January. … Sacramento State enters the season ranked No. 8 in the FCS poll and looks to upset the Spartans. … San Jose State’s starting quarterback has been decided but will not be known until the match. The two prospective picks are Walker Eget and Emmett Brown. … The Spartans look to make their third straight bowl game after ending last season in the Hawaii Bowl (a 24-14 loss to Coastal Carolina). … Just 53 players return from last year’s roster, making it the third-worst in the entire FBS. … The season opener is also the home opener for the Spartans; the home premiere in 2023 attracted more than 20,000 visitors.
Matchups to watch: Sacramento State left guard Jackson Slater vs. San Jose State defensive tackle Soane Toia. The cornerstone of the Hornets’ offensive line, Slater (6′ 4, 316) was recently named an FCS Preseason All-American for the second consecutive season. The Hornets line allowed just 16 sacks last season, thanks in large part to his presence. Toia, who was named second-team all-Mountain West last season, will need to build on his five-sack season. He is the only returning starter on the defensive line and will need to help wreak havoc in the backfield.
Injuries: None reported.
Statistics That Matter: Sacramento State generated 297 first downs last season which was third in the entire FCS despite having two fewer games than the other leaders. … No San Jose State quarterback on the roster has started a collegiate game. … Six receivers in this game have had seasons of 400+ receiving yards to show potential for a shootout. … Sacramento State has scored at least 55 points in three of its last five season openers. … San Jose State ranked fifth in the nation in turnover margin (+11) last season. … Only two players who scored an offensive touchdown last year return for the Spartans (Nick Nash and Malakhi Miller).
Originally published: