SAN JOSE STATE AT STANFORD
Records: San Jose State 1-2. Stanford 1-3.
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. at Stanford Stadium.
TV: ACC Network
Radio: KNBR 1050 AM
Series history: Stanford leads 52-15-1, including 49-13-1 at Stanford Stadium. SJSU is trying to beat Stanford in back-to-back games for the first time since winning three in a row from 1998-2000. The 2000 game was also San Jose State’s last win at Stanford.
Stanford storylines: Stanford enters the game as a favorite for the first – and likely only – time this year. But the Cardinal won’t be taking anything for granted against a Spartans team that beat it to end last season. Stanford has a new quarterback, a completely new receiving corps and a new offense under interim coach Frank Reich, but it has still struggled to score (18.3 points per game, last in the ACC). Then again, San Jose State has been even worse (17.3), which should help the Stanford defense bounce back from its worst performance of the season in last week’s 48-20 loss at Virginia.
San Jose State storylines: SJSU is coming off its first win of the season, beating Idaho 31-28. The Spartans will be looking for their first win at Stanford since a 40-27 win on Sept. 8, 2000. SJSU has a chance to defeat Stanford in back-to-back seasons for the first time since they defeated the Cardinal three times in a row from 1998-2000, all at Stanford. Kicker Denis Lynch hit the game-winning 48-yard field goal against Idaho, his first make of the season after starting the year 0-4 on field goals. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo confirmed that wide receiver Malachi Riley will be out for the season; the Arizona transfer was expected to play a key role in the offense.
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Stats that matter: Micah Ford ranks fourth in the ACC in rushing yards with 335, and he has the fourth most broken tackles in the nation (25), per PFF. … Stanford is attempting to begin 2-0 at home for the first time since 2018, the last time the Cardinal played in a bowl game (2018 Sun Bowl). … Under Niumatalolo, the Spartans are 2-4 on the road. … SJSU ranks 127th in the FBS with a turnover margin of minus-5; the Spartans’ one turnover against Idaho was their lowest total of the season. … SJSU’s defense has held its opponents to 13-of-43 on third downs this season, but allowed Idaho to go 5-for-5 on fourth down.
— HAROLD GUTMANN