Ken Niumatalolo stepped onto the turf in San Jose with a massive shadow following him from Annapolis. Everyone expected the triple-option. Instead, they got one of the most explosive passing attacks in the country. If you’ve been tracking san jose state football results, you know the scoreboard only tells half the story of a program that basically reinvented itself overnight.
One year they are beating Power Four teams; the next, they are struggling to stay afloat in a shifting Mountain West. It’s a wild ride.
The 2024 Breakout: Passing Records and Bowl Drama
Most fans look at the 7-6 final record from 2024 and see "average." They’re wrong. That season was a statistical anomaly that saw the Spartans finish first in the Mountain West in passing yards. We’re talking 321.8 yards per game through the air.
Honestly, the chemistry between the quarterbacks and wide receiver Nick Nash was bordering on unfair. Nash didn't just play well; he became the first unanimous First Team All-American in school history. He led the nation in catches, yards, and touchdowns—the triple crown of receiving.
Key Moments from the 2024 Schedule
- The Stanford Statement: A 34-31 thriller that proved the Spartans could handle the big boys from across the bay.
- The Washington State Shootout: A 52-54 overtime loss that felt like a win for offensive purists.
- The Hawaii Bowl Heartbreak: A 39-41 overtime loss to South Florida. It was a gut-punch ending to a season that exceeded every preseason expectation.
The defense was surprisingly opportunistic too. They led the conference with 28 takeaways. You don't usually see a team finish 7-6 while leading the country in so many major categories, but that’s the chaos of SJSU football.
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The 2025 Reality Check: Rebuilding on the Fly
The jump from 2024 to 2025 was... rough. Transitioning away from the "Nick Nash Era" proved harder than anyone liked to admit. The san jose state football results took a nosedive, landing at 3-9 overall with a 2-6 mark in conference play.
Why the sudden drop?
The portal happened. Key pieces like cornerback Michael Dansby (Arizona) and quarterback Emmett Brown (Coastal Carolina) headed for what they thought were greener pastures. When you lose that much production in the modern NIL landscape, the "Run and Shoot" offense starts to look more like "Run and Stall."
2025 Scoreboard Recap
- Central Michigan: A narrow 14-16 loss that set a grim tone for the season.
- No. 7 Texas: A 7-38 reality check in Austin.
- Idaho: A gritty 31-28 win that served as the season's high point.
- The Stanford Rematch: A heartbreaking 29-30 loss that showed the gap was closing, but not in SJSU’s favor.
By the time the Spartans hit the "Battle for the Valley" against Fresno State in late November, the wheels had mostly come off. A 14-41 loss to their rivals capped off a four-game losing streak to end the year.
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The Stars Who Kept the Lights On
Even in the down years, the talent level in San Jose has been surprisingly high. Danny Scudero emerged as a legitimate threat in 2025, proving the system still works if you have the right speed on the outside. He averaged over 107 receiving yards per game, keeping the tradition of elite Spartan wideouts alive.
On the other side of the ball, Jordan Pollard was a tackling machine. He racked up 115 tackles in 2024 and remained a centerpiece of the defense through the 2025 campaign. It’s guys like Pollard and Gafa Faga who kept games from becoming total blowouts when the offense was struggling to find its rhythm.
What’s Next for Spartan Football?
If you're looking for actionable insights on where this program is headed, keep an eye on the 2026 recruiting class. Niumatalolo is clearly pivoting. He’s brought in Robert McDaniel from UCLA to stabilize the quarterback room and grabbed Maliki Crawford from USC to patch up a secondary that got scorched in the 2025 Nevada game (a 10-55 disaster).
The path forward requires two things:
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- NIL Stability: SJSU is fighting an uphill battle against Power Four budgets. They need to keep their "hidden gems" from jumping ship after one good season.
- Rushing Balance: The 2024 season was fun, but you can’t win long-term in the Mountain West with a 4:1 pass-to-run ratio. They need a ground game that does more than just "exist."
To stay updated, check the official Mountain West standings weekly and watch the transfer portal entries in December. The roster you see in the spring is rarely the one that finishes the fall. Understanding san jose state football results means looking past the win-loss column and watching how they adapt to the ever-changing rules of college sports.
The best way to track the program's health is to monitor the "one-score game" statistics. In 2024, they went 2-4 in games decided by eight points or fewer. Flipping that script is the difference between a bowl trip and a long winter at home.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Review the final 2025 stats for wideout Danny Scudero to see if he's a viable NFL prospect.
- Compare the 2026 non-conference schedule to see if the Spartans have a path to six wins.
- Monitor the CEFCU Stadium attendance trends; home-field advantage is slipping and needs a boost from the local community.