SJSU-Air Force essentials: Story lines, key matchups, stats that matter.
Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m., CEFCU Stadium, San Jose
Radio: KDOW (1220 AM, Palo Alto; 95.3 FM, San Francisco)
TV: FS1
Series history: This will be the sixth time San Jose State and Air Force meet. San Jose State is 1-4 against the Falcons. Last season, Air Force defeated San Jose State 41-24.
Storylines: Today will be the teams’ first experience playing without fans in the stands because of the coronavirus pandemic. … Air Force cadets were allowed to attend the Falcons’ season opener at home on Oct. 3, a 40-7 rout of Navy. … Quarterback Nick Starkel, a graduate transfer from Arkansas, will make his San Jose State debut, but sophomore Nick Nash is expected to have opportunities as well. … Last season, Air Force had one of the best run offenses, and San Jose State had one of the worst run defenses
Roster updates: About 40 players on the Air Force roster, most on defense, took advantage of the academy’s “turnback” offer because of the pandemic, a clause that allowed cadets facing hardships to sit out the current semester and add a semester on the back end of their college careers, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. It made sense in August because at that time the Mountain West Conference wasn’t going to play this fall. The turnback list includes defensive end Jordan Jackson, cornerback James Jones IV, linebacker Demonte Meeks and outside linebacker Lakota Wills, all impact players. … San Jose State receiver Austin Liles, defensive back Bobby Brown II and running backs Deston Hawkins and Hunter Nye opted out of the season.
Matchup to watch: San Jose State’s run defense against Air Force’s triple-option. The Falcons were second in the country with 298.5 rushing yards per game last season, and they’re poised to post big numbers again. Air Force rushed for 369 yards in the win over Navy. Timothy Jackson, Brad Roberts and Haaziq Daniels combined for 317 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Stats that matter: Last season, the Falcons had the second-most rushing yards per game (298.5) and the Spartans gave up the sixth-most rushing yards per game (232.1). … Air Force’s Timothy Jackson, Brad Roberts and Haaziq Daniels combined for two touchdowns and 317 rushing yards against Navy. … Kicker Tevye SchuettpelzRohl tied a single-game Air Force programrecord with four field goals.