San Jose State Football: First Look At The 2023 Schedule

The Spartans had a nice rebound last season, but will their 2023 schedule embolden them to aim higher?

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The next mountain to climb is a steep one.

Following the release of the full Mountain West football schedule earlier this month, the San Jose State Spartans know that they’ll have their hands full in reaching the heights of 2020 once again.

Here’s what the week-by-week schedule looks like with Bill Connelly’s preseason SP+ rankings, where San Jose State is 103rd overall, in parentheses:

Saturday, August 26 – at USC (10)
Sunday, September 3 – vs. Oregon State (31)
Saturday, September 9 – vs. Cal Poly (82nd among FCS teams)
Saturday, September 16 – at Toledo (79)
Saturday, September 23 – vs. Air Force (77)
Saturday, October 7 – at Boise State (68)
Saturday, October 14 – at New Mexico (132)
Saturday, October 21 – vs. Utah State (118)
Saturday, October 28 – at Hawaii (131)
Saturday, November 11 – vs. Fresno State (67)
Saturday, November 18 – vs. San Diego State (80)
Saturday, November 25 – at UNLV (108)

What are the biggest initial takeaways?

1. Getting back on top will involve overcoming early roadblocks.

If San Jose State is able to play its way back into the Mountain West title game, you won’t be able to say the Spartans didn’t earn it. Right now, at least, they will have to play the top four teams in the conference by overall SP+ and get two of those opponents to start. And that’s after a road trip to Toledo wraps up their non-conference slate. SJSU harbors high hopes after a strong rebound in 2022, but they could get saddled with an 0-2 start in the Mountain West standings if they aren’t prepared.

2. Don’t waste winnable road games in October.

Should the Spartans escape the early part of conference play unscathed, the middle of their schedule could line up nicely for a chance at the inside track to the championship. San Jose State should be favored in their trips to New Mexico and Hawaii, but they won’t want to let those opportunities escape since the Lobos and Warriors harbors their own hopes at improving in 2023.

3. Getting late rivalry slugfests at home could be big.

If the Spartans are able to stay within striking distance of the top two spots by mid-November, the other two top teams by SP+ will both have to visit CEFCU Stadium. San Diego State, in particular, will almost certainly be circled on the calendar since the Aztecs have had SJSU’s number as Mountain West peers, winning nine of ten games going back to 2013.

Hardest stretch: at USC, vs. Oregon State

Easiest stretch: at New Mexico, vs. Utah State, at Hawaii

Guaranteed wins: vs. Cal Poly

Guaranteed losses: at USC, vs. Oregon State

Worse than 50/50 games: at Toledo, at Boise State, vs. Fresno State, vs. San Diego State

50/50 games: vs. Air Force, vs. Utah State, at UNLV

Better than 50/50 games: at New Mexico, at Hawaii

Preliminary projected record: 6-6

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Story originally appeared on Mountain West Wire