In the transfer portal era, change is the norm for college football teams, but San Jose State has taken it to a new level.
The Spartans brought in nearly as many players as they have retained this offseason. There is also a new head coach. Ken Niumatalolo, who went 109-83 in a career at Navy that ended after the 2022 season, has replaced Brent Brennan, who was hired as head coach by Arizona.
Niumatalolo spent last season at UCLA in an off-field role under former Bruins coach Chip Kelly.
The triple option offense that Niumatalolo ran at Navy has been scrapped, and there will be a spread offense under offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann.
The Spartans are coming off a season in which they went 7-6 overall and 6-2 in the Mountain West.
Preseason camp will be extremely important for the Spartans, who have brought in 49 new players to join the 55 who remained on the roster.
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San Jose State Football’s Mountain West Title Odds
San Jose State’s odds to win the Mountain West are +6000, via BetMGM.
San Jose State Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
San Jose State’s win total Over/Under is 4.5, with Under 4.5 at -120 and Over 4.5 at +100.
San Jose Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/29 vs Sacramento State
9/7 at Air Force
9/14 vs Kennesaw State
9/21 at Washington State
10/5 vs Nevada
10/12 at Colorado State
10/19 vs Wyoming
10/26 at Fresno State
11/9 at Oregon State
11/16 vs Boise State
11/23 vs UNLV
11/30 vs Stanford
Bold indicates Mountain West contests
Key San Jose State Football Returners
All-Mountain West 2nd Team
DL Soane Toia
WR Nick Nash
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San Jose State Football Is Sorting Out The Quarterback Position
Jay Butterfield was considered the top candidate to start at quarterback, but he has retired due to a medical situation, a school official told HERO Sports. Butterfield began his career at Oregon and only attempted 11 passes as a backup last season at San Jose State.
The three main candidates for the quarterback job appear to be redshirt sophomore Emmett Brown, a transfer from Washington State, Xavier Ward, who was previously at Sam Houston and Washington State but didn’t play for either team, and redshirt junior Walker Eget, who didn’t play in a game last year.
Nick Nash was SJSU’s leading receiver after recording 48 receptions for 728 yards and eight touchdowns. Justin Lockhart returns after missing last year due to injury. In 2022, he caught 36 passes for 578 yards and one score.
Floyd Chalk IV, a transfer from Grambling State, should be one of the main running backs. Last year at Grambling State, Chalk rushed for 696 yards and nine touchdowns. Jabari Bates, who had 11 carries last season for the Spartans, should assume a bigger role.
Guard Marist Talavou, who started 12 games and missed one due to injury, is among the leaders on the offensive line.
The defensive leader is nose tackle Soane Toia, a preseason All-Mountain West selection who had career highs with 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and five sacks last year.
Linebacker Jordan Pollard was second on the team with 79 tackles. He also had two interceptions and four tackles for loss. Pollard was also a preseason first-team all-MWC choice.
Cornerback Michael Dansby is one of the leaders in the secondary. His highlight last season was a 98-yard touchdown interception return against Fresno State. Dansby had four pass breakups in eight games.
2024 San Jose State Football Season Prediction
I predict San Jose State won’t win the Mountain West and will win five games.
SJSU has to get off to a good start because the late schedule is extremely difficult. The final five games are road contests against Fresno State and Oregon State, then three straight home games against the two favorites in the MWC preseason poll – Boise State and UNLV – followed by a non-league contest against Stanford.
With so many new faces, it could be difficult to get off to a good start, which is why the Niumatalolo era should begin with a rebuilding season.
