CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT SAN JOSE STATE
Records: Season opener for both teams
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. tonight (Aug. 29) at CEFCU Stadium
TV: FS1
Radio: 860 AM KTRB
Series history: Series tied 1-1. Teams have not played each other since SJSU’s 48-24 victory over CMU in the California Bowl on Dec. 8, 1990.
SJSU storylines: SJSU has won the home opener for five straight seasons now. The current five-year stretch is the best in SJSU football history. The Spartans also have the fourth-most wins (33) in the Mountain West Conference over that time period. … This marks the first time in quarterback Walker Eget’s five-year career with SJSU that he will start the opener. … This will be the first look at SJSU’s new-look wide receiver room that no longer has Nick Nash or Justin Lockhart. Projected WR starters are Leland Smith, Malachi Riley, and Danny Scudero. … SJSU has 66 returning players from last season’s team that lost to South Florida in the Hawaii Bowl and finished 7-6. The 2025 Spartans have 13 players who started that game.
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CMU storylines: Matt Drinkall replaces retired Jim McElwain as the head coach of the Mid-American Conference’s Chippewas. Drinkall, 42, spent the past six seasons as an assistant at Army, and during that time, faced SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo four times. Niumatalolo, now in his second season in San Jose, was Navy’s head coach for 16 seasons. … Quarterback Joey Labas, who missed the final six games with an injury, is back. But the Chippewas’ top two receivers from last season transferred. … The majority of the defense returns, led by all-MAC linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, who is on the Bronco Nagurski Award and Dick Butkus Award watchlists.
Stats that matter: Last season, the Spartans set an SJSU record with 552 passing attempts, which was third in the FBS. On top of that, SJSU had 31 passing touchdowns, the most in the Mountain West and tenth in FBS. … The Spartans’ defense had 21 interceptions last season, which was tied for third among FBS teams during the 2024 season. … In 2024, with Labas under center, the Chippewas went 3-3; without him, they went 1-5. … Central Michigan ranked seventh in the nation in tackles for loss per game (7.8) and ninth in red zone offense scoring percentage (92.1).
— Aaron Johnson
