San Jose State schedule at a glance

HOME AWAY BYE

SATURDAY, AUG. 28 | 7 p.m.

VS SOUTHERN UTAH

The T-Birds roster includes five players from Bay Area high schools. SJSU is a significant favorite against an FCS opponent that is 5-24 since going 9-3 in 2017.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 | 2 p.m.

AT USC

No team on USC’s schedule faces longer odds than the Spartans, says ESPN’s Football Power Index. But this game might be closer than expected, given SJSU’s experience and 7-1 record last season.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11

BYE

A well-placed week off after USC gives SJSU extra time to heal up and prepare for the Mountain West opener at Hawaii.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 18 | 9:30 p.m.

AT HAWAII

SJSU plays at Hawaii for the third consecutive season. Last year’s game was supposed to be at CEFCU Stadium but was switched because of COVID-19 protocols passed by Santa Clara County. It’s the MW opener for both schools.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 25 | TBA

AT WESTERN MICHIGAN

The Broncos are 0-6 all time against Mountain West teams but return 19 of 22 starters from a team that was 4-2 and averaged 42 points in 2020. This one could be a shootout.

SATURDAY, OCT. 2 | TBA

VS NEW MEXICO STATE

The Aggies were one of four FBS teams to opt out of the 2020 season. NMSU plays as an independent but will face seven Mountain West teams.

SATURDAY, OCT. 9 | TBA

AT COLORADO STATE

The Rams have won three in a row over SJSU, but there’s no telling what shape CSU will be in. The game is CSU’s conference opener after a bye, but also follows a tough four-game season-opening stretch.

FRIDAY, OCT. 15 | 7:30 p.m.

VS SAN DIEGO STATE

SJSU broke an eight-game losing streak against the Aztecs with a 28-17 win last season, scoring twice in the final 11:10. SJSU hasn’t beaten SDSU at CEFCU Stadium since 2008.

SATURDAY, OCT. 23 | 7:30 p.m.

AT UNLV

Second-year coach Marcus Arroyo, the former SJSU quarterback and assistant coach, had a rough debut season, going 0-6, including a 34-17 loss to his alma mater.

SATURDAY, OCT. 30 | TBA

VS WYOMING

The start of a home-heavy finish for SJSU. The Cowboys suffered their first losing season since 2015 last year, going 2-4, but the defeats were by a combined 22 points.

SATURDAY, NOV. 6 | TBA

AT NEVADA

Last season, SJSU outscored Nevada 23-0 after intermission to rally back from a 20-7 halftime deficit. The game was supposed to be played at SJSU, but the stringent COVID-19 protocols in Santa Clara County caused the game to be moved.

SATURDAY, NOV. 13 | TBA

VS UTAH STATE

Utah State has won eight in a row dating back to 2009 — Dick Tomey was coaching the Spartans the last time they won.

THURSDAY, NOV. 25 | TBA

VS FRESNO STATE

The regional rivals play on Thanksgiving Day for the first time since 1956. The Bulldogs lead the series 42-38-3, but SJSU won the last meeting and five of the past eight. Last year’s game was canceled because of COVID-19-related issues among the Fresno State team, just the second time since 1996 the teams didn’t meet.

All times and dates subject to change.