Sept. 18, 2016
Upcoming game (GAME #4):
San José State at Iowa State
Saturday, September 24, 2016,
Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa,
11:00 a.m. (CT)/9:00 a.m. (PT) Fox SportsNet
San José State record: 1-2. The Spartans lost to Utah, 34-17, on September 17, at home in CEFCU Stadium, home of the Spartans.
Iowa State record: 0-3, 0-1 Big 12. The Cyclones lost their conference opener at TCU, 41-20, on September 17.
Series history: Iowa State leads the series, 3-0. The teams are facing each other for the first time since September 20, 1980 when Iowa State posted a 27-6 win in Jack Trice Stadium. The teams played a home-and-home series in 1958 and 1959. Iowa State won its home game, 55-0, on November 14, 1959.
Possibly a 2-2 September: A win at Iowa State would give San Jose State its second consecutive 2-2 win-loss record for September. Last year, the Spartans defeated New Hampshire and Fresno State at home and lost at Air Force and Oregon State.
Final regular season non-conference game: Iowa State is San José State's last regular season non-conference opponent in 2016. The Spartans seek their first non-conference win against a Football Subdivision (FBS) opponent since defeating BYU, 20-14, in San Jose on November 17, 2012. Since then, San Jose State is 0-11 in regular-season non-conference games against FBS opponents. The Spartans do have bowl wins over Bowling Green in the 2012 Military Bowl and Georgia State in the 2015 AutoNation Cure Bowl.
Aiming for a regular season non-conference road win: San Jose State has the opportunity to win its first non-conference road game in four years on September 24 at Iowa State. The Spartans' last non-conference road victory was a 12-0 triumph at Navy on September 29, 2012. Since then, San Jose State lost twice at Auburn (2014 & 2015) and Minnesota (2013 & 2014) and once at Tulsa (2016), Oregon State (2015), and #5-Stanford (2013).
San José State in top-10 for turnovers gained: For the second week in a row, San Jose State ranks in the top-10 for turnovers gained. The Spartans' eight turnovers gained is tied for sixth among Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools. Despite not gaining any turnovers at Tulsa, San José State gained six turnovers in the Portland State win and two in the loss to Utah.
Promising pass rush: San José State has eight quarterback sacks after three games. The Spartans began the season with four quarterback sacks in the Tulsa game. A year ago, the Spartans did not get their eighth sack until the ninth game of the season. Linebacker Frank Ginda is tied for 18th nationally with a 1.00/game average. He has quarterback sack in each of the first three games. Last year's team leader was defensive end Eugene Taylor who finished the season with 3.0 sacks.
The early return is long: Through three games and 51 pass receptions, San Jose State has two wide receivers with a 20.0 or more yards catch average. Justin Holmes leads the group with a 24.8 average. Tre Hartley, who is second on the team with 10 receptions, is has a 20.7 yards per catch average
Freeman reaches 100: Billy Freeman, listed on the John Mackey Award preseason watch list, became the 28th San Jose State player and second this season to reach the 100-reception threshold in a career. Freeman enters the Iowa State game with 100 receptions after catching two passes against Utah on September 17. He is just the third San Jose State tight end with 100 or more career receptions. In the season opener at Tulsa, wide receiver Tim Crawley caught his 100th pass as a San Jose State player.
Crawford at 100%: Placekicker Bryce Crawford is one of 15 in the Football Bowl Subdivision to make each of his kick scoring attempts based on at least 1.00 field goals made per game in games played through September 17.
Improved kick return coverage: San José State is ranked eighth in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in defending kickoff returns at 14.2 yards per return. In his first season as the Spartans' kickoff specialist, Michael Carrizosa has 12 touchbacks credited in 18 kickoffs (66.7 percent). A year ago, the Spartans finished 118th in kickoff yards per return allowing 25.3 per return and had 27 touchbacks on 69 attempts (39.1 percent).