San Jose State Faces Uphill Battle Against Struggling Utah State
LOGAN, Utah – San Jose State travels to Maverik Stadium on Friday to face a Utah state team desperately seeking a Mountain West Conference victory. While the spartans boast a potent passing attack, their success hinges on overcoming a porous Aggies defense that has consistently struggled this season.
Both teams enter the contest following recent defeats – Utah State falling 44-26 to Hawaii and San Jose State dropping a 35-28 decision to Wyoming. This matchup presents an chance for San Jose state to bolster its conference record against a Utah State squad ranked among the nation’s lowest in several key statistical categories, but the Aggies’ vulnerabilities are stark.Utah State’s defense is 116th in FBS, allowing 420.2 yards per game,and ranks 132nd in red zone defense,conceding scores on 96% of opponents’ trips inside the 20.
San Jose State’s offense,currently ninth in the nation with 310.8 passing yards per game, will likely test Utah State’s secondary, which is giving up a staggering 292.7 yards through the air - the worst in the country. Quarterback Walker Eget has thrown for 1,820 yards with 13 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, primarily connecting with receiver Danny Scudero, who leads the team with 851 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns on 50 catches.
Though,the Spartans‘ rushing attack has been largely ineffective,averaging just 100.8 yards per game (122nd in FBS). Utah State’s defense, while yielding 127.5 rushing yards per game (49th), may be able to contain the run, forcing San Jose State to rely heavily on its passing game.
On the Utah State side, Bryson Barnes has completed 63.9% of his passes for 1,318 yards and 12 touchdowns, with Miles Davis leading the ground game with 416 yards and 3 touchdowns. Despite these individual efforts,the Aggies’ offense struggles with consistency,ranking 96th in scoring at 24.0 points per game and 131st in third-down conversion rate at 28.8%.
Adding to Utah state’s challenges is a low time of possession, averaging just 27:01 per game (123rd in FBS). A key to victory for the Aggies will be extending drives and keeping the Spartans’ explosive offense off the field. The game is scheduled for October 25, with San jose State looking to capitalize on Utah State’s defensive woes and secure a crucial conference win.
