SAN JOSE, Calif.-----A Pac-12, a Big Ten, and a Sun Belt Conference team are in San Jose State University's football future as non-conference opponents in the 2024, 2027 and 2028 football seasons.
For the first time since 2006, the Spartans will travel to the University of Washington for a September 16, 2028 road game. The last time San Jose State played at Washington, the Huskies held on for a 35-29 victory despite three touchdown receptions by wide receiver James Jones, a San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame and CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor honoree, was inducted into the City of San Jose's Sports Hall of Fame on November 16.
The Spartans will make their fifth trip since 1991 to Minneapolis for a September 2, 2027 game with the University of Minnesota. San Jose State has a 1992 victory over the Golden Gophers, 39-30, when the two teams played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. That year, quarterback Jeff Garcia, who would go to a 17-season pro career in the NFL and Canadian Football League, ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more as the Spartans posted their first victory in university history over a Big Ten Conference member.
Before facing either Washington or Minnesota, San Jose State will start a home-and-home series with ULM (University of Louisiana Monroe) in 2024. The Spartans will host the Warhawks in CEFCU Stadium in Week 3 of the college football schedule. San Jose State will travel to Monroe for the return game in Week 1 of the 2028 season.
"It's important to create a non-conference schedule strategically to give our players and coaches the best opportunity to realize a successful season. We've competed well against Washington and Minnesota in the past and look forward to playing ULM for the first time in a home-and-home series. These are good games for our football program," said San Jose State University Athletics Director Jeff Konya.
The Spartans athletics director anticipates more announcements in the coming months regarding future non-conference football games at least through the 2031 season.