Nobody expected this. Honestly, when Brent Brennan packed his bags for Arizona in January 2024, the vibe around CEFCU Stadium felt a little like a funeral. Brennan hadn’t just won games; he’d rebuilt the culture from scratch. Then, the Spartans hired Ken Niumatalolo. You know, the Triple Option guy from Navy. The college football world collectively scratched its head, wondering how a run-heavy, military-academy philosophy would translate to the pass-happy Mountain West.
It worked.
The San Jose State football 2024 season wasn't just a transition year; it was a loud, proud statement. Niumatalolo didn’t bring the triple option with him. Instead, he brought the "Spread and Shred," hiring Craig Stutzmann to run an evolution of the Run-and-Shoot. The result? A bowl-eligible season that proved the Spartans are no longer the "little brother" of California football. They finished the regular season 7-5, capping it off with a gritty 24-13 win over Stanford to reclaim the Bill Walsh Legacy Trophy. That win mattered. It wasn't just a rivalry victory; it was a signal that the power dynamic in the Bay Area is shifting toward the South Bay.
The Quarterback Rollercoaster and the Rise of Nick Nash
If you followed San Jose State football 2024 closely, you know the quarterback situation was... complicated. Emmett Brown started the year looking like a revelation. The Washington State transfer had a massive arm and zero fear. He threw for over 300 yards in multiple early games, including a wild 31-10 win over Air Force where he looked completely in command.
But then, injuries and inconsistency crept in.
Enter Walker Eget.
Eget brought a different energy. He was bigger, more of a traditional pocket presence, and he navigated the late-season stretch with a poise that frankly surprised a lot of scouts. He didn't have to be perfect, though. He just had to get the ball near Nick Nash.
Let’s talk about Nick Nash for a second. The dude is a cheat code.
Nash started his career at SJSU as a quarterback before transitioning to receiver. In 2024, he didn't just play well; he led the nation in almost every meaningful statistical category for a wideout during the regular season. We’re talking over 1,200 yards and double-digit touchdowns. He broke the school record for consecutive games with a touchdown catch. Defenses knew the ball was going to him. They doubled him. They bracketed him. It didn't matter. Nash’s ability to high-point the ball in the corner of the end zone became the defining image of the season. He is arguably the best receiver to ever wear the blue and gold, and that is saying something considering the talent that has passed through San Jose.
A Defense That Bent but Refused to Snap
While the offense was flashy, the defense under Derrick Odum (who Niumatalolo wisely kept on staff) was the backbone. They had to be. The Mountain West in 2024 was a gauntlet of high-powered offenses like Boise State and UNLV.
The Spartans played a "bend-but-don't-break" style that frustrated opponents. Jordan Pollard was a tackling machine in the middle of the field. He seemed to be everywhere at once, filling gaps and blowing up screen plays. The secondary, led by veterans like DJ Harvey, specialized in opportunistic turnovers. In their win against Nevada, the defense forced three interceptions that essentially iced the game when the offense was stalling.
It wasn't always pretty. The loss to Boise State showed the gap that still exists between the top of the conference and the middle pack. Ashton Jeanty—who is basically a human bowling ball—shredded the SJSU front for over 150 yards. But even in those losses, the Spartans didn't quit. They played with a chip on their shoulder that reflected Niumatalolo’s own career. People doubted him, so his players played like they had something to prove too.
The Stanford Game: Why It Changed Everything
College football is built on rivalries. For years, Stanford treated San Jose State like a preseason tune-up. Not in 2024. The Bill Walsh Legacy Trophy game was played at CEFCU Stadium, and the atmosphere was electric. It was loud. It was cramped. It was beautiful.
Winning that game 24-13 was the peak of the San Jose State football 2024 campaign. It secured bowl eligibility and kept the trophy in San Jose for the second year in a row. It also proved that the "Spread and Shred" could work against Power 4 (formerly Power 5) size and speed. The Spartans' offensive line, which was a major question mark going into August, held their own against a much larger Cardinal defensive front.
Why this season was an anomaly (in a good way)
- Coaching Continuity: Keeping much of the defensive staff prevented a total system collapse.
- Transfer Portal Success: Players like Emmett Brown and several key linemen came in and contributed immediately.
- The Nash Factor: Having a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist masks a lot of offensive line deficiencies.
- Home Field: SJSU went 4-2 at home, making South Jose a difficult place for visiting teams to play.
Navigating the Mountain West Chaos
The conference was a mess in 2024, and I mean that in the most chaotic, entertaining way possible. With the Pac-12 essentially dissolving and the Mountain West teetering on the edge of a merger/rebuild, every game felt like an audition for a higher spot in the college football hierarchy.
SJSU found themselves in the middle of a three-way tie for third place late in the season. They didn't make the conference championship—Boise State and UNLV were just on another level this year—but they remained relevant in the conversation until late November. That’s a massive win for a program many picked to finish 10th in the preseason polls.
The loss to Hawaii was probably the low point. A long flight, a sluggish start, and a few missed field goals cost them a game they should have won. It was a reminder that even with a high-flying offense, special teams and discipline still win games. Niumatalolo was visibly frustrated after that one, noting that they "beat themselves." But the way they bounced back against Stanford the following week showed the resilience of the locker room.
What This Means for the Future
San Jose State isn't a fluke anymore. For decades, this program would have one good year and then vanish into obscurity for five. The 2024 season proved that the foundation built by Brennan was strong enough to survive a coaching change.
Niumatalolo has already started recruiting differently. He’s looking for guys who fit the "Spread and Shred" but maintain the disciplined "Blue Collar" mentality that he honed at Navy. The 2025 recruiting class is already looking like one of the strongest in school history, specifically on the defensive line.
One thing to watch: the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) situation. SJSU doesn't have the deep pockets of a Texas or an Oregon. Keeping stars like Nick Nash—who surely had bigger programs sniffing around with bags of cash—is the new battle. The fact that Nash stayed for 2024 says everything you need to know about the locker room culture.
Actionable Steps for Spartans Fans
If you want to keep this momentum going, there are a few things that actually matter for the program's survival in the modern era of college football.
Support the One Spartan Nation collective. In the current landscape, NIL is the only way to retain talent. If the fans don't chip in, the best players will inevitably transfer to bigger schools for their senior years.
Show up for the early-season games. The 2024 season saw a massive spike in attendance, but it needs to be consistent. High attendance numbers are a metric that bowl committees and TV networks look at when deciding who gets the prime slots and better payouts.
Watch the coaching carousel. Niumatalolo is happy in San Jose, but successful coordinators like Craig Stutzmann are going to be hot commodities for head coaching jobs soon. The program needs to be prepared to pay to keep its brain trust together.
The San Jose State football 2024 season wasn't perfect, but it was successful. It gave fans a reason to believe that the program can thrive under different leadership and in a rapidly changing sport. The Spartans are here to stay, and the Mountain West is officially on notice.
Next Steps for San Jose State Football:
- Solidify the Offensive Line: Focus on high school recruiting to build a homegrown front that can protect the QB for four years.
- Establish a Lead Back: With the passing game settled, finding a consistent 1,000-yard rusher will make the "Spread and Shred" unstoppable.
- Upgrade Facilities: Continue the renovations around the South End Zone to match the level of the top-tier Mountain West programs.