TODAY’S GAME
SAN JOSE STATE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
Records: San Jose State (2-1, 1-0 Mountain West); Western Michigan (2-1, 0-0 MAC)
Kickoff: 11 a.m., Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, Mich.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KTRB (860 AM)
Series history: First-ever meeting between the programs, with the Spartans set to host the Broncos next year. Storylines: San Jose State is the only FBS that will travel to six different time zones in consecutive contests this season. After a trip to Honolulu resulted in a 17-13 victory against Hawaii, the Spartans travel to the Eastern time zone for an 11 a.m. PST kickoff. The previous weekend had a 9:30 PST start time. The air travel is roughly 8,700 miles. … Western Michigan, which is coming off a 44-41 upset at Pitt and is on a two-game win streak, won’t have its head coach on the sidelines after Tim Lerner, in his fifth year at the helm, tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine. … San Jose State hasn’t recorded at least three wins in September since 2012. … SJSU punter Will Hart, who booted it 11 times for 489 yards at Hawaii, returns to the vicinity of his old stomping grounds. He’s a grad transfer from Michigan.
Matchup to watch: San Jose State linebacker Kyle Harmon, a team captain, will miss the first half after being flagged for a targeting call in the fourth quarter against Hawaii. How the Spartans handle the absence of arguably the heart and soul of the defense until intermission will prove crucial, with players such as Jordan Cobbs looking to fill the void.
Injuries: None reported.
Stats that matter: San Jose State quarterback Nick Starkel has thrown an interception in every game so far, including a pair of pick-sixes, while Western Michigan quarterback Kaleb Eleby has yet to be picked off in 93 pass attempts. … The Spartans’ defense has yet to record an interception. … San Jose State tight ends Derrick Deese Jr., Sam Olson and Dominick Mazotti are each averaging over 20 yards per catch. … Western Michigan linebacker Zaire Barnes recorded 10 tackles in the win at Pitt, earning Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honors. … Western Michigan is rushing for 170.7 yards per game, with a 1-2 punch of La’Darius Jefferson (222 yards, 5 TDs) and Sean Tyler (217 yards, 2 TDs).