Nevada Football Faces San Jose State in Crucial Showdown

RENO, Nev. — The Nevada Wolf Pack will host the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday, November 15, at 12:30 p.m. PST at Mackay Stadium. The matchup is significant for both teams, with Nevada seeking to end a 16-game conference losing streak.

This season, the Wolf Pack (1-8, 0-5 Mountain West) struggle off the start, often falling behind early. Nevada has been outscored 65-12 in the first quarter during the season and cannot afford another slow start against the Spartans (3-6, 2-3 Mountain West).

“A fast start is critical for us,” said Nevada head coach. “We cannot keep climbing out of holes and expect to win.” With their recent performances, the Spartans also seek to avoid early blunders, as they struggled last week with three turnovers in their game against Air Force.

San Jose State will enter the game as a 9.5-point favorite, thanks to their strong passing offense, averaging 451 yards per game, ranking second in the Mountain West and 23rd nationally. While their offense is potent, they have struggled in the red zone, scoring on only 80 percent of their opportunities, which ranks 95th in the nation.

“We need to capitalize when we are in scoring range,” said San Jose State’s quarterback. “Every point counts, especially in a game like this.”

Nevada’s defense has shown some promise, particularly in preventing touchdowns in the red zone, and they will need to continue that trend to keep the game close. For the Wolf Pack, improving their passing attack will be key. Nevada ranks among the worst passing offenses in the nation, and they will look to exploit the Spartans’ weakness in pass defense.

The last meeting between the two teams ended in a narrow victory for San Jose State, winning 35-31 in October 2024. Nevada hopes to leverage their home advantage at Mackay Stadium, where they have not lost to the Spartans since 2000.

The game will be aired on CBS Sports Network and available on radio at 105.7 FM, with a pre-game show beginning at 11:30 a.m. PST. Fans hope for an exciting matchup as both teams aim for redemption after tough losses last week.