San Jose State-Wyoming: What to know before Spartans’ conference opener
SAN JOSE STATE at WYOMING
Records: San Jose State 2-1, 0-0 in the Mountain West; Wyoming 3-2, 1-0
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KTRB 860 AM
Series history: Wyoming leads 7-5, but San Jose State won last year’s Oct. 30 matchup at CEFCU Stadium, 27-21. The Spartans have won four of five games since joining the Mountain West in 2013. San Jose State has won every game in series decided by one possession or less, while Wyoming has won every game decided by more than a touchdown.
San Jose State storylines: The Spartans are 14-25 in Mountain West play under Brennan, but 10-5 since 2020 … Have won four of their past six road MW games after losing first 12 under Brennan … Opened conference play last season with a 17-13 win at Hawaii … Have won past two MW openers, including 17-6 vs. Air Force in 2020 when they went unbeaten in the regular season (7-0, all conference games) and went to the Arizona Bowl … Linebacker Jordan Pollard named MW Freshman of the Week after eight tackles and interception vs. Western Michigan.
Wyoming storylines: The Cowboys have scored on their first possession in each of the last four games … Wyoming is 3-0 at home this season, including a 17-14 win in conference opener vs. Air Force Sept. 16 … Went just 1-3 in MW play at home last year, scoring three or fewer points twice.
Stats that matter: Wyoming has scored on 15 of 16 red-zone opportunities, second-best red zone scoring percentage (.938) in Mountain West and No. 27 (tied) in FBS, but eight red-zone field goals are tied for No. 1 in NCAA … Second-least penalized team in Mountain West, and No. 13 in FBS … After holding WMU to 71 passing yards last week, SJSU is No. 18 nationally and third in Mountain West in pass yards allowed per game (169.7) … Both teams are in bottom 30 of FBS teams in yards per game, but San Jose State is fifth in the Mountain West at 338.0.
— MIKE NOWELS & LAURENCE MIEDEMA