Future San Jose State University football teams will be facing non-conference opponents with air and ground nicknames starting in 2023 in home-and-home series with the University of Toledo Rockets and the University of Texas El Paso Miners. Athletics director Marie Tuite made the announcement on behalf of San Jose State.
The Spartans and the Rockets will embark on regular-season football for the first time, Saturday, September 16, 2023 in Toledo, Ohio. The return game is set for Saturday, September 9, 2028 in CEFCU Stadium, Home of the Spartans.
San Jose State and Toledo played in the inaugural California Bowl in Fresno, Calif., in 1981. Despite the Spartans overcoming a 21-3 second-half deficit and taking a 25-24 lead with 0:52 remaining in the game, the Rockets still won, 27-25, on a 41-yard field goal with 0:15 left on the clock.
Toledo becomes the third Mid-American Conference school member on San Jose State's future football schedules through the 2028 season. The Spartans have home and home non-conference games with Western Michigan (2021 – away; 2022 – home) and Central Michigan (2020 – away, 2025, home).
San Jose State and UTEP have games scheduled for September 26, 2026 in San Jose and September 25, 2027 in El Paso's Sun Bowl.
The Spartans and the Miners have a much longer football history than the Spartans and Rockets. Dating back to 1966. San Jose State and UTEP have split 10 meetings. Nine of the 10 games occurred between 1996 and 2004 when both schools were Western Athletic Conference members. San Jose State came away winners in five of those WAC games. UTEP is the first Conference USA team on the Spartans' future football schedules.
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Presently, tickets for the San Jose State season opener with Northern Colorado on August 29 and all home games are available at www.sjsuspartans.com/tickets.
