San Jose State Football Schedule 2026: Full Spartans Slate, Dates, and Key Games

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San Jose State draws the short straw and the big stage at once: the Spartans open the 2026 season in Week 0 at No. 14 USC on Saturday, August 29 — a 3 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC and Peacock at the Coliseum. Ken Niumatalolo’s third season is a rebound bid after a 3-9 year, and the schedule cooperates from there: seven home dates at CEFCU Stadium, the Fresno State rivalry back in San Jose, and a Black Friday home finale against North Dakota State.

Kickoff times for most games are announced closer to game week based on TV selections, so check back weekly — this page is updated as times, networks, and results come in.

2026 Team Schedule
San Jose State Football Schedule
Mountain West · CEFCU Stadium · Ken Niumatalolo (3rd year)
Aug 29
Week 0 Opener at USC
7
Home Games
Nov 27
Black Friday Finale vs NDSU
Sept 19
Circle It: Fresno State
Date Opponent Time (ET) / TV Result
Sat, Aug 29 at USC 3:00 PM · NBC/Peacock —
Sat, Sept 5 at Eastern Michigan TBA —
Sat, Sept 12 vs Cal Poly TBA —
Sat, Sept 19 vs Fresno State (Battle for the Valley) TBA —
Sat, Sept 26 Bye Week — —
Sat, Oct 3 at Hawaii (Dick Tomey Legacy Game) TBA —
Sat, Oct 10 vs Wyoming TBA —
Sat, Oct 17 at UTEP TBA · MW+ —
Sat, Oct 24 at Nevada TBA · MW+ —
Sat, Oct 31 vs New Mexico TBA · MW+ —
Sat, Nov 7 vs Northern Illinois TBA · MW+ —
Sat, Nov 14 at Air Force 7:00 PM · CBSSN —
Sat, Nov 21 vs UNLV 7:00 PM · CBSSN —
Fri, Nov 27 vs North Dakota State 3:30 PM · CBSSN —

Games That Will Decide San Jose State’s Season

Aug 29 at USC A national-TV payday game against a ranked Big Ten opponent. Nobody circles it as a win, but keeping it respectable sets the tone for a rebound year.
Sept 19 vs Fresno State The Battle for the Valley comes to San Jose — now a nonconference rivalry with Fresno in the Pac-12, and still the game Spartan fans care about most.
Oct 10 vs Wyoming The first home conference test — in a Mountain West with no clear pecking order behind UNLV, games like this decide who climbs.
Nov 21 vs UNLV The league favorite visits CEFCU in late November — a chance to play spoiler, or something much bigger if the Spartans’ season breaks right.
Rebound Mode
Niumatalolo’s third year follows a 3-9 season, with Bojay Filimoeatu promoted to run the defense full-time after finishing 2025 as the interim coordinator.
Seven at CEFCU
Cal Poly, Fresno State, Wyoming, New Mexico, NIU, UNLV, and North Dakota State all visit San Jose — the friendliest home slate in years.
Black Friday Bison
The regular season ends with North Dakota State’s first-ever trip to San Jose — a nonconference date against the FCS dynasty turned Mountain West newcomer.

How the Schedule Sets Up

After the USC opener and the Michigan trip, the schedule funnels through CEFCU Stadium: Cal Poly and Fresno State at home, then a bye before the conference grind. The road swing through El Paso and Reno is the season’s pivot — split those and the November home dates against NIU, UNLV, and NDSU give the Spartans a real shot at bowl eligibility. For the stakes at the top of the league, here’s how the College Football Playoff works. The FBS structure is governed by the NCAA.

The Bottom Line

A Week 0 spotlight at USC, the Valley rivalry at home, and a seven-game CEFCU slate — San Jose State’s 2026 schedule offers a clear road back to a bowl. Bookmark this page — times, networks, and results are updated throughout the season.