SAN JOSE — San Jose State is looking to bounce back after blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead at Wyoming, but the Spartans might have to do it without quarterback Walker Eget and star receiver Danny Scudero at 100 percent – or at all.
Scudero set a school record with four touchdown receptions against the Cowboys on Saturday, but the former Archbishop Mitty High star played through an injury in SJSU’s 35-28 loss. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo said this week he’s not sure Scudero will play Friday night against Utah State.
Eget, who leads the Mountain West in passing yards and touchdowns, also was banged up in the loss. He appeared to sustain an injury to his throwing arm during the third quarter that sidelined him until San Jose State’s final two drives of the game.
“(Eget said to me), coach, if it gets really close, I’m going to go ahead and go play,” offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann said. “He said ‘If I can throw I can play and if I can’t throw I’ll just come right out.”
San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget (5) runs as he loos to pass against Texas during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Niumatalolo said of Eget, “He gutted it out there in pain on the last drive (and that) just shows you who the kid is. Things look better and better every day as the week’s gone on. But we’re not 100% (sure Eget will play).”
The Spartans (2-4, 1-1 Mountain West) travel to Logan, Utah, to face the Aggies (3-3, 1-1) on Friday night (6 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
SJSU has six regular-season games remaining (three on the road) to earn the six victories likely needed to secure an unprecedented fourth straight bowl appearance. Thanks to a scheduling quirk, the Spartans don’t face Boise State or UNLV – two of the conference’s top title contenders – this season.
Eget and Scudero’s status might not be determined until kickoff in Logan, though the Spartans have to submit their roster availability report Wednesday night.
SJSU has a short week of preparation after being outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter in Laramie.
“I’ve been doing this for 36 years and that’s probably one of the toughest losses I’ve been involved in,” Niumatalolo said. “Just with the way everything transpired because we had total control of the game. I’m used to finding ways to close games out.”
San Jose State wide receiver Danny Scudero scores one of his four first-half touchdowns against Wyoming on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Photo courtesy of San Jose State Athletics)
Three of the Spartans’ losses and both of their wins have been decided by a touchdown or less.
When Eget went down against Wyoming, senior Xavier Ward and freshman Tama Amisone split reps at quarterback until Eget returned. They were a combined 8-of-18 for 45 yards and one interception. The Spartans did not score without Eget under center.
Amisone and Ward had taken the majority of the practice reps as of Tuesday, according to Niumatalolo. He said if Eget can’t go, whoever plays better in practice will be the starter against Utah State.
Niumatalolo also has a decision to make at kicker. Mathias Brown, who took over for Denis Lynch the past two weeks, missed his first two career field-goal attempts against Wyoming (from 53 yards and 47 yards). Lynch was demoted after making just four of his 10 attempts, missing a potential game-winning 33-yard field goal in the Spartans’ 16-14 loss to Central Michigan and two kicks from less than 30 yards in SJSU’s 30-29 loss to Stanford.
The position was up for grabs again this week at practice.
“I was kind of hoping we wouldn’t have that discussion and get past it but it’s the elephant in the room,” Niumatalolo said. “We have to get better at field goal kicking. It’s cost us.”
The Spartans’ defense will also have its hands full with Aggies quarterback Bryson Barnes.
Barnes has thrown for 1,318 yards, 12 touchdowns (second to Eget in the Mountain West) and only two interceptions. Barnes has also rushed for 309 yards and six touchdowns.
“Vanderbilt struggled to stop this guy. He’s a really good player,” Niumatalolo said. “The most impressive thing to me about the kid is his toughness, he’s about as tough as I’ve seen. I’m looking forward to meeting him after the game and shaking his hand.”
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Before coming to Utah State, Barnes played at Utah, where he led the Utes to a victory over USC and now Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in 2023.
“He’s a really competitive player and (Utah State) rallies around his competitiveness,” defensive coordinator Derrick Odum said. “He runs the ball hard, has a strong arm and he’s a great leader. He’s going to be a huge challenge this week.”
There will be a lot of familiar faces in Friday’s game as San Jose State seeks its first road win. Three SJSU coaches played at Utah State and four current Spartans coaches previously worked at USU.
Utah State’s offensive coordinator is Kevin McGiven, who served as San Jose State’s offensive coordinator from 2018-23. McGiven spent one season on Niumatalolo’s staff as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
The Aggies’ offense features former Spartan Anthony Garcia, who redshirted in 2023 and was recruited by former Spartans head coach Brent Brennan. Garcia, who started out as a quarterback, has found himself being featured in a gadget role in Utah State’s offense.
On top of that, Niumatalolo’s son, Ali’i Niumatalolo, is the tight ends coach and a senior analyst for the Utah State football team.
This is not the first time Niumatalolo faced off against one of his sons: In 2018 during his time at the Naval Academy, Niumatalolo’s oldest son Va’a was an offensive intern on Hawaii’s staff when Navy fell to Hawaii 59-41 in 2018.
“So I’m 0-1 against my sons. I definitely don’t want to go 0-2 against my sons,” Niumatalolo said. “Normally we talk, but we haven’t been talking much this week.”