Nov. 2, 2014
Upcoming game: San José State at Fresno State
Saturday, November 8, 2014,
Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, Calif.
7:30 p.m. (PT), CBS Sports Network
San José State record: 3-5, 2-2 Mountain West. The Spartans have a two-game losing streak after a 38-31 loss to Colorado State on November 1. The week before, San José State lost at Navy, 41-31.
Fresno State record: 3-6, 2-3 Mountain West. The Bulldogs are in the midst of a three-game losing streak after a 45-17 loss to Wyoming on November 1.
Play-by-Play Radio Coverage: KLIV (1590 AM, San José) originates San José State football broadcasts. Justin Allegri is the play-by-play voice. Kevin Richardson offers commentary. The Fresno State broadcast begins at 7:00 p.m. (PT).
For the first time, San José State has four network affiliates.
KION (1460 AM/101.1 FM, Salinas) KFIV (1360 AM, Modesto) KWSX (1280 AM, Stockton) ESPN Desportes (860 AM, San Francisco)
Television: The San José State-Fresno State game will be televised live by the CBS Sports Network. Ron Pitts calls the play-by-play. Former Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch is the analyst. Rashan Ali reports from the sidelines. The telecast begins at 7:30 p.m. (PT). Crouch was 1-0 as a player against San Jose State. Despite completing 4-of-10 passes with two interceptions for 67 yards, he scored on runs of 6 and 9 yards, respectively, as the Cornhuskers defeated the Spartans, 49-13, in the 2000 season opener for both teams.
San José State-Fresno State series: The Bulldogs lead the series, 38-35-3, in games decided on the field. In a series that started in 1921, Fresno State is the Spartans' most frequent opponent. The November 8 game will be the 77th meeting between these teams. San José State has wins in the last two meetings between these teams including a 62-52 triumph last year to conclude the regular season.
The last time the Spartans won at least three in a row was a four-game streak from 1978 through 1981. The 1979 win in Fresno was later forfeited to Fresno State per action of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. Prior to 1979, San Jose State won the 1973 through 1976 games between these teams in a second four-game winning streak.
The last time the Spartans won consecutive games against Fresno State in Bulldog Stadium was in 1981 (65-33) and in 1983 (41-23). Fresno State's last win in the series was a 33-18 win in Spartan Stadium on October 23, 2010. The last time the Bulldogs defeated the Spartans on their home turf was a 41-21 triumph on October 17, 2009. Saturday's game marks the first time these teams are playing on a November 8 date.
Mountain West contender: With four conference games remaining, San Jose State remains in contention for the Mountain West Conference's West Division title and a berth in the conference's championship game on December 6. The Spartans (2-2) head into the week's play even in the loss column with West Division leaders Nevada and San Diego State (3-2). San José State has conference games remaining with Fresno State (2-3), Hawai'i (1-3), Utah State and San Diego State (3-2).
First in the Mountain West in 2014: San José State became the first team to recover an onside kick in 2014 when Chris Kearney recovered kicker Austin Lopez's fourth-quarter attempt with 2:17 left in the Colorado State game. The Spartans are 1-of-3 in onside kick success this season. The rest of the Mountain West schools are a combined 2-of-5 in onside kick tries. The onside kick played a role in San Jose State's 62-52 win over #16-Fresno State last year. The Spartans opened the second half with an onside kick, recovered the attempt and scored a touchdown to extend its lead to 49-41.
Limiting penalties: San José State ranks tied for sixth among Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools for fewest penalties per game in 2014. The Spartans have 32 penalties in eight games. This season, San José State did not commit a penalty in the Minnesota game. In the last two contests at Navy (2) and against Colorado State (1), the Spartans were penalized three times.
A pass catching fancy: According to research compiled by Western Kentucky University, San José State is one of 11 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools and the only one in the Mountain West with five or more players with 20 or more pass receptions in games played through November 1. Tyler Winston (54), Hansell Wilson and Tim Crawley (25), Tyler Ervin (24) and Jabari Carr (21) already have at least 20 receptions with four regular-season games remaining. For Wilson, Crawley and Ervin, their pass catching totals to date are personal single-season bests. Winston is four catches shy of his 2013 total of 58 when he received Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. Tight ends Billy Freeman (18) and Andrew Vollert (14) are near the 20-reception plateau for the season. A year ago, eight San Jose State players had 20 or more receptions. Winston and Crawley are two of them to repeat in 2014.
Tyler Ervin vaults to #9:  Running back Tyler Ervin became the first San José State player in 12 years to gain at least 300 yards of all-purpose running in a single-game with his 308 yards in the Colorado State contest. Ervin rushed for a career-high 149 yards on 18 carries, caught four passes for 38 yards, returned six kickoffs for 114 yards and added a 7-yard punt return.